Govan Underground to Ibrox Underground: the 40th Anniversary of the Ibrox Disaster 3 January 2011

Welcome to my wee photoblog on Glasgow, where we feature the joys and unjoys of walking and cycling through a fascinating, beautiful and often badly run city. For the blog's origin and an alphabetical list of posts see the 'Introduction' post

http://glasgowalbum.blogspot.com/2010/02/introduction.html

The Ibrox Stadium Disaster was one of the worst tragedies in British sporting history. 3 January 2011 was the 40th anniversary. See

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ibrox_disaster

'This is Our City'. Rangers Stickers on an underground carriage. The day before Celtic had beaten Rangers 2-0 at Ibrox

Just emerged from Govan Underground. Development going on

Looking up Govan Rd towards Pearce Institute

For what the space in front of the church looked like last year see
http://glasgowalbum.blogspot.com/2010/04/govan.html
I guess the pretty wee fountain thingy is coming back after restoration, though the remains of the old public toilet is likely gone for ever.

Heading off now to walk to Ibrox, looking back

We're heading down Govan Rd past that building in the middle. . .

. . .where (as before) we will turn into Orkney St

Looking back up to station

Now in Orkney St

Looking back to Govan Rd

Vicarfield St this way. . .

. . .and that way

Approaching the old school (we are now in Broomloan Rd

Across the road from school looking back

Some of the debris behind the school gate - including the panel buttons to call up a lost world - has been cleared

A wee memorial tribute someone has left.

Summertown Rd; Govan Town Hall at the end of it

Walking on

There were several wee birds - thrushes? - singing in this tree. The ice and snow had gone

The Woodville Arms, Someone has cleared the 'grass' graffiti since we were last here

Woodville St

'Enjoy Yourselves'

Looking back

Heading on again

'Tackling Poverty Through Recycling'. As with Clydebank and Dalmuir up the road - see
http://glasgowalbum.blogspot.com/2011/01/clydebank-1-golden-jubilee-and-environs.html
this area was once one of the world's main powerhouses, where poverty was tackled through employment

Ibrox Business Park - the stadium is up there behind

Looking back

Looking across the road

'No Entry' but we'll head up anyway as others are doing

Broomloan Rd Stand. .

. . .from where we cut down to Edmiston Drive

There is to be a service in the ground for the families of those who died

'Always Remembered' The statue is of John Grieg, the Rangers captain of the era. The day previous to this he and Billy McNeill - the Celtic captain at the time - led Celtic and Rangers out onto the pitch. For a tribute to a great Celtic hero see
http://glasgowalbum.blogspot.com/2010/07/tommy-burns-tribute-16-may-2009.html

This family group came up from Liverpool. Note the Liverpool/Rangers scarf

Celtic scarf on post

Northern Ireland scarf

Man City scarf

The great Davie Cooper - remembered fondly by everyone

Chelsea scarf

Now in Mafeking St. . .

. . .which leads on to Copland Rd

Like the area round their great rivals - Parkhead - Ibrox has seen better days, as have these two great clubs. Both clubs were once feared in Europe, and are now seen as easy pickings. Twenty years ago I was told by Someone Who Knows to buy Rangers shares if I ever got the chance - 'What can go wrong?' he said. 'They are backed by the shrewdest business minds there are, Scottish bankers'. What could go wrong indeed?

Heading down Copland Rd to Ibrox Underground

The Stadium Bar

Dreams of Leaving; you may not have a job but your children may have the X Factor