This week in ... 1989

HE is in the news for entirely different reasons at the moment, but this week in 1989, Andy Walker was also the talk of the town.

The striker was back at training after injury, to the relief of boss Billy McNeill, as the team geared up for an Old Firm showdown in the Scottish Cup Final.

“We will check with Andy before we start making plans for Hampden but he has certainly not been ruled out of contention,” said Billy.

Andy had taken a knock on his eye during a previous game at Aberdeen and after recovering in hospital had been left behind when Celtic went to Portugal for a four-day break.

There was good news at Ibrox too, as Walter Smith confirmed Ally McCoist – also knocked out of action in a game at Aberdeen – would be recovered enough to play in the match.

Elsewhere, a record crowd of more than 5000 fans poured into Shawfield Stadium on the south side of the city for the Scottish Greyhound Derby.

Backers of the favourite Airmount Grand were pleased when it landed the £10,000 first prize and we reported: “For followers of the Evening Times tips, who made Airmount the nap for the night, there was the bonus of Galtymore Lad supplying the forecast.”

The Glasgow Tigers speedway team were having a miserable week, having lost both matches on their weekend tour, but the Scottish rugby team, helped by a Glasgow star – Cameron Glasgow, that is – made an impressive start to their Japanese tour with a resounding 91-8 win over Kanto in Tokyo.