Copland Road Stand

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Lore & Background

The stand is located at the east end of the stadium, near Copland Road subway station and parking areas for Rangers supporters' coaches. It was the site of Stairway 13, which was involved in multiple crushes, including the 1971 disaster that killed 66 people.

In Their Own Story

On 2 January 1971, the atmosphere at Ibrox turned from celebration to catastrophe at Stairway 13. After Colin Stein scored a late equaliser to make it 1–1 against Celtic, fans began leaving but some turned back upon hearing the roar for the goal. The inquiry later established that the crowd was actually moving in the same direction when the crush happened, perhaps triggered by people bending over to pick up discarded items. The downward force of thousands leaving meant there was no way to stop the pile-up on the steep stairway. In the aftermath, the stadium's safety record was deemed the worst in Britain. This tragedy forced a radical rethink; Willie Waddell visited West German grounds during the 1974 World Cup and concluded that such steep exits had to go. The massive bowl-shaped terracing behind the western goalmouth was eventually removed between 1978 and 1981, replaced by three rectangular all-seated stands funded by the Rangers football pools operation.

Reader's Guide

The Copland Road Stand is at the east end of Ibrox Stadium.

Did You Know?

• The Copland Road Stand is at the east end of Ibrox Stadium.
• Stairway 13, in the Copland Road Stand, was the site of the 1971 Ibrox disaster.