SPORT
LISTINGS
The List selection of the best in sporting events overtne next fortnight. Sport is listed first by event and then by day.
FOOTBALL Saturday 27
PREMIER LEAGUE
I Dundee Utd v St Johnstone Tannadice Park. Tannadice Street. Dundee. 3pm. For my money these are the two most exciting teams in the country. Neither McLean‘s youngsters nor Totten‘s attacking side are tainted by the cynicism often found lurking in the Premier League.
I Hlbemian V Aberdeen Easter Road Stadium. Albion Road. Edinburgh. 3pm. The Dons are still beeling over their failure to win through to the Skol Cupfinal this year. a feeling that Hibs are more familiar with than most. While the visitors will therefore have a point to make — and two to take — my crystal ball gives me a strange feeling that the Edinburgh side, now with added Murdo power. will surprise them.
I SI erren V Hearts Love Street. Paisley. 3pm. The beleaguered Tony Fitzpatrick has grown adept at looking on the bright side of life. After their recent comprehensive gubbing by Rangers. Fitzpatrick claimed that until then his St Mirren outfit had only been losing by the odd goal. This gallant but wayward brand of optimism is. unfortunately. unlikelyto keep either directors or fans happy for long.
FIRST DIVISION
I Alrdrie V Falkirft Broomfield. Airdrie 3pm. With Owen Coyle on the boil. or at least simmering. the Lanarkshire club will be hard to displace from the top ofthe First.
I Ayr Uld V Clydebank Somerset Park. Somerset Road. Ayr. 3pm. A nice wcc trip down the coast for the Bankies will probably be ruined by Ally Macleod‘s eleven.
I Clyde V Morton Firhill. Firhill Road. Glasgow. 3pm. These days the rotund but gifted Andy Ritchie is but a passing sigh on the lips of Greenock‘s bakers — will they see his like again? Not in this fixture.
I Meadowbank Thistle v Hamilton Meadowbank Stadium. London Road. Edinburgh. 3pm.
I Ralth Rovers v Panick Thistle Stark‘s Park. Pratt Street. Kirkcaldy. 3pm.
Sunday28
I Skol Cup Final: Celtic v Rangers Hampden Park. Glasgow. 3pm. Celtic replace Aberdeen as foils to Rangers in pursuit of the Skol Cup. Over The last three seasons the clashes between the reds and the blues have had the armchair connoisseurs drooling at the mouth as a delectable display of football was served up. Can the Old Firm pairing match the gourmet presentation. or will it be a return to ‘Mince Pie‘ football — tough. uncompromising but traditionally Scottish?
Saturday 3
PREMIER LEAGUE I Reads V Dunlermllne Tynecastle Park. Gorgie Road. Edinburgh. 3pm. Joe and
the Jordanaires continue their struggle to make an impact on the Premier League. I Motherwell v Dundee United Fir Park. Motherwell. 3pm. Ask not for whom the ‘Well toil. they toil forTommy. T. McLean's men will certainly find it tough going against the redoubtable squad moulded into shape by his elder brother. I Rangers v Hibernian lbrox Stadium. Glasgow. 3pm. The proximity ofthe Skol Cup Final and the recent engagement in Europe for Souness and his multi-million pound team may prove sufficient distraction and allow the artisans of Leith to steal a point.
I St Johnstone v St Mirren McDiarmid Park. Perth. 3pm. With home advantage and a prolific forward line. the McDiarmid Park outfit should emerge wearing the haloes in the battle ofthe Saints.
FIRST DIVISION
I Clydebank V Brechin CIIV Kilbowie Park. Clydebank. 3pm.
I Falkirk v Ralfh Rovers Brockvillc. Falkirk. 3pm.
I Hamilton V ForfarAthletlc Douglas Park. Hamilton. 3pm.
I Kilmarnock v Clyde Rugby Park. Kilmarnock. 3pm. Kilmarnock currently have the highest attendance figures in the First Division. ahead of Dundee. and if they could only string a few results together are capable of fulfilling at least some of their chairman's ambitions.
,I Morton V Ayr UId (‘appielow Park.
Greenock. 3pm. I Partick Thistle v Airdrie Firhill. Firhill Road. Glasgow. 3pm.
Tuesday 6
I Celtic v Motherwell Celtic Park. Gallowgate. Glasgow. 7.30pm. To add insult to injury. this match is being played on a Tuesday in order that Celtic fansare not on the streets when the blue-bedecked cohorts stream towards their date with the premier European trophy.
EUROPEAN CUP
Wednesday 7
I Rangers v Red Star Belgrade lbrox Stadium. Glasgow. 8pm (ticket prices yet to be agreed). Forget the Premier League. this is the competition that the lbrox club are determined to succeed in — and every Englishman and Rangers‘ fan wishes them well. If Murray is to trulyemulate media/football moguls like Maxwell and Berlusconi then it is imperative for Rangers to make their mark in this season's competition.
[DEEME— Saturday 27
BRITISH PREMIER LEAGUE
I Ayr Raiders thite Bay Warriors Summit Centre. Minerva Way. Finneston. Glasgow. 4.45pm. £4.50 (£3). Operating out of Glasgow on a temporary basis (until their new 2500 seater rink is finished), the Raiders have so far won two and lost two. They are. however. confident ofbeing able to whip the points off White Bay and of filling their new Ayr stadium when it
DREAM, DREAM, DREAM
Real Madrid have won it six times, Liverpool four, Ajax and Bayern Munich three apiece, Celtic and Manchester Utd once and Rangers, never. Although the lbrox club would put themselves on a par with the previous winners —the European Cup -the lion Grail of
Graham Souness and his knights of the boardroom table remains a shimmering vision on a far horizon.
Last season their European dream turned out to have been largely hallucinogenic. In the first round first leg, Bayern Munich humiliated the Scottish Champions 3—1 in Glasgow. Admittedly Rangers recaptured some pride, or at least avoided further embarrassment, in the return leg by scraping a goalless draw. This season they have already progressed further by comprehensively gubbing the less than fearsome Valetta. Although, to be honest, the same result could have been attained by any local primary school team with one leg tied behind their left ear.
The true test for the prophet-king of lbrox will come on Wednesday November 7 when Red Star Belgrade and halfthe Yugoslavian national side arrive in Glasgow to take on the mighty 'Gers. Depending of course on how the lbrox side fare, so far from the Copeland Road and in front of 100,000 partisan fans in the first leg, they will either be chasing victory or another elusive pipe-dream.
Unfortunately, the latest and much
Can McColst help put out the Stars of Belgrade?
sought after star to join the Govan galaxy - Dleg Kuznetsov is ineligible for the tie. His experience and class would have lent much to Bangers’ assault on the premier European trophy and though they have talent in abundance elsewhere, the vital ingredient of European experience is missing, and in a vicious-circle effect may continue to be missing next season unless they break through to the next round. (Ross Parsons) Rangers v Red Star Belgrade, November 7, lbrox Stadium, Glasgow, 8pm (ticket prices yet to be agreed).
opens early next year. In the good old days of the 70s. before Safeways moved in. 4000 used to come down to the ice to cheer them on.
I Fife Flyers v Murrayfield Racers Kirkcaldy Ice Rink. Kirkcaldy.7. 15pm. £3 (£1 .75). The ‘OId Firm' of Scottish Ice Hockey face off in what should be an intriguing. if not bruising encounter.
Sunday28
BRITISH PREMIER LEAGUE
I Ayr Raiders V Fife Flyers Summit Centre. Minerva Way. Finnieston. Glasgow. 4.45pm. £4.50 (£3). The visit to Ayr completes the weekend of fixtures against Scottish opposition for the Kirkcaldy-based side.
I Murrayfield Racers v Durham Wasps Murrayfield Ice Rink. Riversdale Crescent. Edinburgh. 6.30pm. £4 (£2.50). A traditionally tough contest with no quarter asked or given.
Tuesday 30
NORWICH UNION CUP SEMI-FINAL
Saturday 3
I Murrayfield Racers v Humberside Sea Hawks Murrayfield Ice Rink. Riversdale Crescent. Edinburgh. 7.30pm. £4 (£2.50). The return leg of the semi-final.
BRITISH PREMIER LEAGUE
I Ayr Raiders v Cleveland Bombers Summit Centre. Minerva Way. Finnieston. Glasgow. 4.45pm. £4.50 (£3).
Sunday 4
BRITISH PREMIER LEAGUE
I Murrayfield Racers v Cleveland Bombers Murrayfield Ice Rink. Riversdale Crescent. Edinburgh. 6.30pm. £4 (£2.50). NATIONAL LEAGUE DIVISION 1
I Glasgow Summit Saints v Bracknell Bees Summit Centre. Minerva Way. Finnieston. Glasgow. 4.45pm. £3.50(£2). The courageous attempt to reintroduce big-time ice hockey to Glasgow has got off to a shaky start. four losses out of four and the sacking of their player-coach Rob Boyle. However. things can only get better. and the interest ofthe Glasgow public is gradually being stirred. though not so far for the right reasons.
TO The List 26 October — 8 November 1990