THERE'S so much going on at this time of year that it's all too easy to forget important events from the past.

One which we must never allow to slip from our mind is the Ibrox Disaster of January 2, 1971, when 66 people lost their lives.

We had no idea of the tragedy which had occurred when we travelled back to Celtic Park after the match.

All we knew was that Jock Stein had stayed behind.

It later unfolded he was doing whatever he could to comfort the injured and assist in any other way possible.

It was the following day before the extent of the tragedy started to become known.

Compare that to today, when the advances in technology mean that, through our TVs and radios, we are taken right to the scene as soon as anything happens.

My abiding memory of 44 years ago was the sight of Rangers players and officials attending so many of the funerals.

That's when it really struck home how many fans had lost their lives, and how many others this had affected.

My good friend Sandy Jardine was among the Rangers players who did what they could to offer comfort and show their respects for those who died.

And it's sad to reflect that he is no longer with us either, having lost his battle with cancer in April.

It helps to keep everything in perspective when we think we have got something to moan about.

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