Ibrox Park (1887–1899) facts for kids
 Ibrox Park
Location in Glasgow council area
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| Location | Ibrox, Scotland |
|---|---|
| Coordinates | 55°51′12″N 4°18′24″W / 55.8533°N 4.3068°W |
| Surface | Grass |
| Construction | |
| Built | 1887 |
| Opened | 20 August 1887 |
| Closed | 9 December 1899 |
| Demolished | 1899 |
| Tenants | |
| Rangers F.C. (1887–99) | |
Ibrox Park was an old football stadium in Ibrox, Scotland. It was the home ground for Rangers football club. They played there from 1887 until 1899. After that, Rangers moved to a new stadium right next door. This new stadium is now known as Ibrox Stadium. The original Ibrox Park also hosted four Scottish Cup Finals. It also held three international matches for the Scottish national team.
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History of Ibrox Park
Rangers' previous football ground was called Kinning Park. It could hold about 20,000 people. But the club could not make it any bigger. So, Rangers looked for a new place to build a stadium. They found a spot in Ibrox. At that time, Ibrox was a small town near Glasgow. Today, it is part of Glasgow.
Building the New Stadium
The Ibrox site was a good choice. It had easy ways to get there, like the nearby Ibrox railway station. Rangers signed a ten-year lease for the land. A company called Fred Braby & Co. built the new ground. They put up a stand on the north side of the pitch. This stand had 1,200 seats but no roof. There was also a building next to it for players. The other three sides of the pitch had terraced areas. These were sloped areas where fans could stand. There was also a running track around the field. Ibrox Park opened on 20 August 1887. The first game was a friendly match against Preston North End.
Hosting Important Matches
Later, a new grandstand was built on the south side of the pitch. After this, Ibrox Park hosted three international matches for Scotland.
- In 1889, Scotland beat Ireland 7–0.
- In 1892, Scotland lost 1–4 to England.
- In 1897, Scotland beat Ireland 5–1.
The stadium also hosted the 1890 Scottish Cup final. This was between Queen's Park and Vale of Leven. The final even needed a replay game.
Rangers and the Scottish League
Rangers joined the new Scottish Football League for the 1890–91 season. The first league game at Ibrox Park was on 18 August 1890. Rangers won 5–2 against Hearts. About 4,000 fans watched this game.
Ibrox Park was chosen for the 1892 Scottish Cup Final. This match was between Celtic and Queen's Park. Around 30,000 people were expected, but the stadium was not big enough. There were more problems when Ibrox hosted the international game against England a few weeks later. A stand at the stadium collapsed. Sadly, two people died in this accident.
The 1893 Cup Final was also held at Ibrox. Again, it was between Celtic and Queen's Park. But the game had to be played again because the pitch was in very bad condition. Ibrox Park hosted the Cup Final for the fourth and last time in 1895. This game was between St Bernard's and Renton.
Moving to a New Home
By this time, the new Celtic Park stadium had opened in 1892. It was becoming the main football stadium in Glasgow. Rangers then decided to build a brand new stadium. They leased a new piece of land right next to Ibrox Park. This new stadium opened in December 1899. It was called the second Ibrox Park. Today, it is known as Ibrox Stadium.
The new stadium was built partly on the land where the old Ibrox Park stood. The eastern part of the old site was used for houses. Rangers played their last league game at the original Ibrox Park on 9 December 1899. They won 6–1 against Kilmarnock. About 5,000 fans watched this final game. However, the new Ibrox was not ready for the next match. That game, against St Mirren on 16 December, was played at Partick Thistle's Meadowside ground instead.
