Rangers pay tribute to disaster victims

Tributes were paid yesterday to those who lost their lives in the Ibrox disaster.

The tragedy claimed the lives of 66 people on 2 January, 1971, when fans were crushed on stairway 13 of the Rangers stadium at the end of an Old Firm game.

Nigel Pickup, eight, was among those who died as thousands of supporters were leaving the ground. More than 200 fans were injured.

Every year, the club pays tribute to the victims. Sandy Jardine, who was part of the Rangers team that day, led the tributes yesterday by laying a wreath.

Rangers’ director of football, Gordon Smith, supporters’ assembly president Andy Kerr and supporters’ liaison officer Jim Hannah joined in the wreath-laying at the John Greig statue, which stands outside Ibrox as a permanent memorial to the disaster.

A minute’s silence was held before the club’s SPL clash with Motherwell yesterday.