The city’s industrial landscape was being rapidly altered. Defunct and disused docklands and shipyards littered the banks of the Clyde, while Clydebank’s world-famous Singer sewing factory, once a major employer in the Greater Glasgow region, also finally closed its doors following years of uncertainty.
In sport, frustrations boiled over towards the end of the 1980 Scottish Cup Final between Celtic and Rangers at Hampden Park. A riot broke out with dozens of supporters injured in violent scenes as mounted police struggled to quell the chaos. The shameful incident resulted in the permanent banning of alcohol at all Scottish football stadia.
But it wasn’t all doom and gloom. The city had a world lightweight boxing champion in Bridgeton-born fighter Jim Watt, local fizzy drinks legends Irn-Bru were celebrating their 150th birthday, while Glaswegians also enjoyed a revamped underground system with fancy new trains.
But it wasn’t all doom and gloom. The city had a world lightweight boxing champion in Bridgeton-born fighter Jim Watt, local fizzy drinks legends Irn-Bru were celebrating their 150th birthday, while Glaswegians also enjoyed a revamped underground system with fancy new trains.
![Ballet dancer Dame Margot Fonteyn signing copies of her book 'Magic of the Dance' at John Smith's bookshop in Glasgow, January 1980.](https://www.thestar.co.uk/webimg/b25lY21zOmQwYTVmZmMyLWY3OTQtNGRlMi1hNTQyLTE4OGQ3MDUxM2U5Mjo5NTExMWE0OC00Yzc5LTQzYWEtOTQxZi02ZjMyNzMzZmU1MTM=.jpg?crop=3:2&trim=&width=640)
5. Margot Fonteyn book signing
Ballet dancer Dame Margot Fonteyn signing copies of her book 'Magic of the Dance' at John Smith's bookshop in Glasgow, January 1980. | JPIMediaPhoto: Gordon Rule
![Workers leaving the Singer sewing machine factory in Clydebank, a major employer in the Greater Glasgow region, which finally closed down in 1980.](https://www.thestar.co.uk/webimg/b25lY21zOjEzNzU4NzBhLTQ0MTktNGI2Yy1hNGU1LTY5M2Q5NGNlMTgwMjowOWMwZjFhZi03OTE0LTRiODQtYjhlNi1hNjU0YzA5ODZhYjY=.jpg?crop=3:2&trim=&width=640)
6. Singer factory workers
Workers leaving the Singer sewing machine factory in Clydebank, a major employer in the Greater Glasgow region, which finally closed down in 1980. | JPIMediaPhoto: Gordon Rule
![Scottish documentary film-maker Enrico Cocazza in Glasgow, March 1980.](https://www.thestar.co.uk/webimg/b25lY21zOjFhYWU1ZDhjLTJjZTUtNDNkYy1hMzM0LWI3NTYwYjNkNzcyNTo3MjBmNmMzZi1hYTQ1LTRjN2MtODY1OS00ZWUwMmMzMDY4ZDE=.jpg?crop=3:2&trim=&width=640)
7. Enrico Cocazza 1980
Scottish documentary film-maker Enrico Cocazza in Glasgow, March 1980. | JPIMediaPhoto: Allan Milligan
![The Kelvinhaugh ferry crosses the River Clyde in Glasgow, June 1980.](https://www.thestar.co.uk/webimg/b25lY21zOmE5MGMxZDJjLWRmNGUtNDQ0ZS04ZmZlLTcyMmUwMWU1MDI4YTpjZGU1YWRmYy0yOWVjLTRjMjctYmU4YS1lM2NjYzc3MWQ4MDc=.jpg?crop=3:2&trim=&width=640)
8. Kelvinhaugh ferry 1980
The Kelvinhaugh ferry crosses the River Clyde in Glasgow, June 1980. | JPIMediaPhoto: Allan Milligan