I’ve never hidden the fact that I love perusing through our archives with old photographs and cuttings.
Over the next few weeks, I’ll highlight some examples of those involving local footballers.
From September 25, 1971 . . .
Tommy Walker, Arbroath’s 19-year-old wing-half, was yesterday transferred to Airdrie.
The fee was believed to have been £16,000.
Arbroath manager Albert Henderson admitted last night it was a record for a Second Division player, beating the £15,000 St Johnstone paid to Stirling Albion for Henry Hall.
Yesterday’s deal was completed in a Glasgow hotel.
After the signing, Walker travelled to Airdrie to meet his new team-mates.
Manager Henderson said the 90-minute negotiations were the first the clubs had had.
He did not expect the deal to go through so quickly and had included Walker in his line-up at Clydebank.
But he had taken extra players “just in case”.
Airdrie’s signing of Walker – a Scotland Youth cap who joined the Red Lichties from Arbroath Lads Club just over two years ago – offsets the impending loss of Sam Goodwin, who is moving to Crystal Palace this week.
Broomfield boss Ian McMillan said last night: “I have had my eye on young Walker for a while.
“He had a cracking game against us in the Drybrough Cup.”
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