On this day in 1976, Aston Villa played Glasgow Rangers in a friendly. The game had to be abandoned in the 53rd minute as fights erupted all across Villa Park resulting in one of the worst episodes of hooliganism in Britain’s football history.
Trouble had erupted way before the Rangers faithful arrived in Birmingham. Thousands of fans took the night train from Glasgow, which itself was delayed because of some commotion. Apparently, few of the fans were dropped off in Wigan. According to some eyewitnesses, some Rangers fans were in and around Birmingham’s city centre as early as 3 AM in the morning.