‘New Year bells had been ringing, all of Scotland was singing’
2 January 1971 was a foggy, dark, dreich day. The Rangers v Celtic clash on this fateful date matched the backdrop against which it was played out.
An uneventful, nondescript game resulted in a 1-1 draw as a late opener by Celtic’s Jimmy Johnstone in the 89th minute was cancelled out by Rangers striker Colin Stein, moments later. The result and football paled into irrelevance as tragedy unfolded at the end of the game as the crowds made their way out of the ground.
66 supporters lost their lives in a crush at Stairway 13 of Ibrox Stadium.
The youngest victim was Nigel Pickup, 8, from Merseyside.
The events of that day resonate with every true Rangers fan. The trauma and sense of loss of the victims families is at the forefront of the collective Rangers family with a vast empathy, especially at the turn of each New Year.
With every victim, there is a human story, a life not fully lived and a void left behind.
There are also the survivors, who are still with us and still remembered.
The death of Prescot-born Nigel Pickup is a particularly poignant story, given that he was so young.
He was in Glasgow with family to spend the New Year and was taken to the big game, his first football match, by an older relative.
Nigel’s resting place is at Yew Tree cemetery in Huyton, Merseyside which incidentally is the boyhood home and stomping ground of Rangers manager and Liverpool legend, Steven Gerrard.
At the graveside, to this day, there is a well maintained family headstone which is accompanied by a plaque ‘in memory of Nigel from the Rangers supporters worldwide.’ Back in October 2010, prior to the 40th anniversary of the disaster, an intimate service was held at the cemetery with a small contingent of Rangers fans present for this dedication.
Links were made, friendships grew and a common bond saw the formation of the Hillsborough Ibrox Memorial Group, who produced a banner in memory of the 96 and 66 victims, respectively.
Always Remembered.
Nigel Pickup – Forever Young