Quintin Jardine's blog

I few years ago, at a book signing in Canada, I was approached by an elderly gentleman who leaned over me and asked conspiratorially, ‘Which are you, Rangers or the ‘tic?’ Had we been in Scotland, he would have asked me the same question in a different way, as in, ‘What school did you go to?’ or, slightly more subtle, ‘Did you play for the Boys’ Brigade?’

Some might say I would have been justified in telling him politely, that it was none of his ******* business, but I didn’t. Instead, I replied . . . politely . . . ‘Actually, I’m neither.’ He raised an eyebrow, said, ‘I don’t believe you,’ and walked away. Well, sir, if you’re still around, and you’re out there, it was true then and it still is.

That said, it does not prevent me from recognising and enjoying the achievements of Scottish clubs when they play in Europe, regardless of the colour of their shirt and the off-colour lyrics of their songs. When I channel-hopped from C5 to ESPN last night and caught Maurice Edu sliding in the last-gasp, Europa League tie-deciding goal, in the strange absence of the Sporting defence which seemed to be having a team meeting in the furthest corner of the penalty box, I was just as pleased as any of the fully fuelled guys in the stands in Lisbon. Given the venue for this year’s tournament final, it will be true for my wife and I if I borrow the following line from a well-known anthem: ‘If they go to Dublin we will follow on.’ Walter vs Kenny in the final in the Aviva Stadium? Difficult but doable.