Blether with Brown: Ruth Davidson’s first was ‘thumping’

During the referendum campaign, the ‘Yes’ and ‘No’ sides held a penalty-kick contest, which the ‘No’ side won.

Scottish Conservative Party leader Ruth Davidson was one of the successful ‘No’ penalty takers, despatching the ball firmly into a corner of the net.

When she was in Perth recently, she was asked if she is a keen football fan.

“Yes,” she replied. “I support Dunfermline and play five-a-sides as often as I can.”

Ruth went on to say that football is in her blood.

“My dad, Dougie Davidson, was an inside-forward with Partick Thistle and Irish side Portadown in the 1960s,” she added.

“And the first-ever game I was taken to by my dad was in 1990.

“It was at McDiarmid Park and St Johnstone thumped Aberdeen 5-0!”