Second Ibrox

 

 

Although a fine ground the club was growing and the facilities were quickly becoming too small. Evidence of this was the shambolic scenes at the 1892 Scottish Cup final 30,000 fans descended upon the ground and throughout the match spectator encroachment stopped play eventually the game had to be replayed.
Also with the lease on the land coming to an end a simple solution was found.
Land adjacent to Ibrox was available and a lease was quickly sorted out. Another problem was how to finance the construction of a new ground. The club decided to become a limited company which would raise the funds needed. The club had £5600 in the bank and it was estimated that they would require 12000 to finance the new ground. A new ground required careful planning and designing for this job Rangers turned to one of there own Archibald Leitch. Ibrox was to see Leitch start a career as the top clubs choice of ground designer. He would go onto work with all the top clubs in the country.

Archibald Leitch was born in 1865 a consulting engineer and also a factory architect
He was hired by Rangers to build a ground that would be second to none The Leitch plan was to build a ground that would hold close to 80,000 spectators. The terraces were designed to be a temporary structure with the club only having a 10 year lease on the site this seemed a sensible design.

Plans of Ibrox 1899

 

The scheme was to re-erect John Gordons stand on the north side as a terrace cover. A fine Pavilion would be built complete with dressing rooms for the players and match officials committee and manager rooms and a gymnasium. Next to the pavilion a stand with seating for 5995 and an enclosure for 6,429 would stand where the main stand is today. The east and west ends of the ground would hold timber terraces which were held in place by a series of steel columns. The new Ibrox hoasted its first match before it was finished on December 30th  1899 Rangers entertained Hearts in a Inter City League match.

 

Plans for the Pavillion

 

The Pavillion

 

Report from The Scotman Rangers first game at Second Ibrox.