When Mark Walters met… Mark Walters! Rangers hero meets his namesake

SOME people spend years thinking about what to name their prospective children.

Worries about upsetting family or your in-laws with your choices are often at the forefront of the minds of new mums and dads.

Not for Satty Singh, though. The 48-year-old Indian restaurant owner has a system.

In 1989, the Rangers-daft dad-to-be was watching his heroes take on Celtic in a crucial Old Firm derby when he pledged to friends he would name his son after the next goalscorer.

English winger Mark Walters then found the net in a 4-1 win for the Gers and shortly after, Satty’s son, Mark Walters Singh, was born.

In 1994, Satty repeated the trick. Ukrainian Oleg Kuznetsov scored his one and only goal for Rangers in a 4-2 win over their arch Old Firm rivals and a few weeks later, Satty welcomed Oleg Singh into the world.

The family’s restaurant, Mister Singh’s India in Glasgow, is known for attracting its fair share of celebrities, from ex-Rangers stars like Ally McCoist and Paul Gascoigne to comedian Billy Connolly.

For eldest son Mark, who is involved with the business, it was the recent appearance of the player who gave him his name that was most special.

And when Mr Walters popped in for a curry last week, the younger Mark couldn’t resist taking a photo with him.

“We love the club. We’re big Rangers fans and have been for a long time,” said Mark, 28.

“It’s an honour having this name and I was a bit like ‘oh my God, the guy I’m named after just walked into the restaurant’.

“He actually came in years ago when I was 17 and I introduced myself to him. We shared a giggle and it was all a bit surreal.

“This time it was pure banter. He was telling everyone about it and it was great fun.”

Walters, who also played for Aston Villa and Liverpool, won three league titles at Rangers between 1989 and 1991.

“It’s very flattering,” said the ex-footballer, 52. “I met Mark’s dad years ago who said he had named his son after me but I’m not going to lie, I thought he was joking.

“Mark’s a lovely boy and a credit to his family.

“Glasgow’s one of my favourite cities in the world so I love to come back and I still try to visit the supporters’ clubs. I don’t get recognised as much as these days as my hairstyle has changed a fair bit but the diehards still see me.”

The younger Mark could have just as easily been a Terry Butcher, Kevin Drinkell or Ian Ferguson Singh – they all scored against Celtic in 1989 – but he’s happy with how it worked out.

Some might even say he had more luck than his younger brother Oleg.

“I’m probably more proud of this than Mark Walters is of having someone named after him,” laughed Mark.

“I think it was a shock to him.

“He sent me a lovely text the next day – he’s a bubbly and happy guy.”