DAY NINE: GREATEST
Mark Walters Club
Rangers (1987 to 1991)
Titles
and 1991).
Three (1989, 1990
THE Englishman’s time in Scotland is often remembered for the disgraceful racist abuse he suffered. Black players had been a rarity in this country when he signed from Aston Villa for £500,000 in 1987. His presence was too much for some of the pond life who populated the terraces at the time.
Mark Walters (below) was subjected to monkey chants and had bananas thrown at him on his debut in an Old Firm game against Celtic at Parkhead. He suffered similar sickening treatment at other away grounds. His own club even had to ban one so-called supporter for an incident in his first appearance at Ibrox too. They were shameful scenes.
But they shouldn’t be allowed to overshadow what a classy footballer Walters was. He was an old-fashioned winger, an entertainer who tormented defenders, a supreme athlete who raced down the touchline and curled delightful crosses in to his strikers. He also had an eye for goal and was a regular scorer. It is to his enormous credit that he performed at such a high level given everything else he had to contend with.
Walters helped Rangers win the first three Scottish titles in their Nine-In-ARow era before following Graeme Souness to Liverpool in a £1.25million transfer.
Aiden McGeady Club
Celtic (2004 to 2010)
Four (2004, 2006, 2007 and 2008).
Titles
THE Glasgow-born winger was another who endured, and at a young age too, a tough time from the stands due to his decision to play international football for the Republic of Ireland, where his grandparents had hailed from, rather than Scotland.
Club St Mirren (1978 to 1981 and 1989 to 1990)