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Sports editor who covered four football World Cups dies aged 89

Ian WheelerA former sports editor who spent 50 years in journalism and covered four football World Cups has died aged 89.

Ian Wheeler, left, worked on newspapers across Scotland and England during a career which had begun when he was just 14-years-old.

Ian was sports editor of Dundee daily The Courier for 10 years prior to his retirement in 1992, and also spent time as head of DC Thomson’s Newcastle office.

He also spent time in Glasgow covering sport for the Sunday Post and the Irish edition of the Weekly News.

Born in Elgin, he attended Elgin Academy before joining the Northern Scot, which is based in the town, aged 14 in 1941.

His career was interrupted by national service, which he served as an air mechanic with 703 Squadron of the Fleet Air Arm.

He returned to the newsroom in 1947 and spent another six years in Elgin before joining Dundee dailies The Courier and the Evening Telegraph in 1953, before making the move to Glasgow.

As well as his time in Newcastle, Ian worked in Manchester for 15 years before returning to the Weekly News in 1979.

Away from journalism, Ian played football and cricket and was a keen angler.

He is survived by his wife Mildred, children Graeme and Laura, four grandchildren and three great-grandchildren.