Rangers Football Club 0 Posted November 17, 2010 Share Posted November 17, 2010 (edited) Reds To Unveil Remembrance Banner LIVERPOOL fans will unveil a banner next Friday night paying tribute to victims of both the Hillsborough and Ibrox Disasters. A group of Reds supporters has been planning the flag for some time after a total of 162 people died in the two tragedies. After several Rangers followers travelled to Merseyside last month to lay a remembrance stone bearing Nigel Pickup's name, they felt the time was right to have it made. Aged just eight, Nigel was the youngest victim at the Ibrox Disaster on January 2, 1971, and he was one of 66 people to perish. He had travelled to Glasgow from Liverpool with his grandfather to attend his very first football match but passed away when Stairway 13 collapsed after the game. Touched by the recent gesture shown by Gers fans, the Liverpool delegation have responded in fine style. Their flag also remembers the 96 people who died during an FA Cup semi-final between the Reds and Nottingham Forest on April 15, 1989. They will parade it on the pitch Liverpool's home game with Bolton Wanderers at Anfield on New Year's Day. The group will then travel north for the Old Firm game the following afternoon and have been invited to attend the Ibrox Disaster 40th anniversary memorial service on January 3. Liverpool's fans will show the banner in public for the first time on November 26 at 8pm in the New Derry Social Club in the city's Mere Lane. Present will be Margaret Aspinall, chair of the Hillsborough Family Support Group (HFSG), who has given her full support to the idea. Proceeds from the evening will go toward the HFSG, with a donation also going to Rangers in remembrance of their own fans. Spokesman John Mcgivern said: "It's something we've been planning for years but we haven't had a moment when it has felt right to do it. "There is a perception that Liverpool fans all support Celtic and we were worried how people would respond to us getting a banner made. "Of course, that's not the case at all and back in the 1960s an awful lot of Liverpool fans followed Rangers as well. "Not many people here were aware that Nigel Pickup, the youngest victim at the Ibrox Disaster, had come from Liverpool. "But after the recent coverage in our local press leading up to the 40th anniversary, we felt it was the perfect time to get the banner made. "We sent on our design to Andy Kerr at the Rangers Assembly and the response we've had from him and so many other people has been fantastic. "In fact, it was quite astonishing and very touching. They said our two clubs had a unique bond and said our flag's design had a simple but poignant manner. "The Assembly has invited us up to the memorial service on January 3 and we will be proud to be there to remember those who died so needlessly." Rangers will commemorate those who tragically lost their lives in the 1971 Ibrox Disaster on the 40th anniversary in January. A special memorial service for the families and friends will be held at Ibrox Stadium on Monday 3rd January at which 66 Rangers fans who died after the Old Firm derby in 1971 will be remembered. The 40th anniversary will also be marked on the 2nd January, 2011 with a minute's silence and other tributes at the Old Firm match at Ibrox. The Club has been in contact with relatives of those who lost their lives in the disaster and we fully appreciate the support and co-operation we have received from the SPL, Strathclyde Police and Celtic Football Club with regard to the arrangements to mark the anniversary. More details of the memorial service will be confirmed at a later date. The SPL has confirmed today that the Old Firm derby will take place on Sunday 2nd January at 12.45pm and in accordance with the wishes of many families, the memorial service will be held on January 3. John Greig, who captained Rangers in the 1971 derby, commented: "The terrible events of 2nd January, 1971 will never be forgotten. "It was a horrific day for everyone who lost loved ones at the game and they will always be in our thoughts." Andy Kerr, President of the Rangers Supporters Assembly, said: "It is fitting that the Club marks the 40th anniversary with a dedicated memorial service for the friends and families in addition to the tributes at the Old Firm derby the day before, when I am certain every fan present will show their respect for those who were lost." More... Edited November 18, 2010 by Zappa 0 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Zappa 0 Posted November 18, 2010 Share Posted November 18, 2010 Wonderful gesture! 0 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
bluedan 93 Posted November 19, 2010 Share Posted November 19, 2010 Thats fantastic, Well done to all involved. 0 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.