The city’s industrial landscape was being rapidly altered. Defunct and disused docklands and shipyards littered the banks of the Clyde, while Clydebank’s world-famous Singer sewing factory, once a major employer in the Greater Glasgow region, also finally closed its doors following years of uncertainty.
In sport, frustrations boiled over towards the end of the 1980 Scottish Cup Final between Celtic and Rangers at Hampden Park. A riot broke out with dozens of supporters injured in violent scenes as mounted police struggled to quell the chaos. The shameful incident resulted in the permanent banning of alcohol at all Scottish football stadia.
But it wasn’t all doom and gloom. The city had a world lightweight boxing champion in Bridgeton-born fighter Jim Watt, local fizzy drinks legends Irn-Bru were celebrating their 150th birthday, while Glaswegians also enjoyed a revamped underground system with fancy new trains.
So sit back, take a look and reminiscence with the following photos that capture Glasgow in 1980.
But it wasn’t all doom and gloom. The city had a world lightweight boxing champion in Bridgeton-born fighter Jim Watt, local fizzy drinks legends Irn-Bru were celebrating their 150th birthday, while Glaswegians also enjoyed a revamped underground system with fancy new trains.
17. Houses in Pendeen Crescent 1980
Run-down, neglected and covered in graffiti, the flats at Pendeen Crescent (known as Scotland's Street of Shame) in Glasgow, November 1980. Boy is unidentified. | JPIMedia Photo: Allan Milligan
18. SNP demo 1980
The Scottish National Party hold a demonstration in Glasgow in October 1980. | JPIMedia Photo: Brian Stewart