NOT MILKING IT
‘I’m not going to b******t you’: Douglas Ross on scandals, Scotland’s Euros ‘penalty’ and Ayr’s iconic Club De Mar
The Scots Tory leader reflects on campaign mishaps
DOUGLAS Ross has leapt from one giant cow pat to another in a troubled campaign but is honest enough to admit: “My own issues do come up on the doorsteps – I’m not going to bulls**t you, given we’re on a farm with lots of it here.”
He’s talking about the scandal which saw him replace David Duguid as the candidate for Aberdeenshire North and Moray East while his ill colleague still languishes in hospital.
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Then he was accused of combining his political expenses with his work as a top flight linesman that led to him announcing he was stepping down as Scots Tory leader after this Thursday’s General Election, before he was later cleared of any wrongdoing.
He says: “Look, of course I would have done things differently, but like in football, you play what’s in front of you.
“I can’t change anything. I can reflect, as I am one of the most self-critical people I know, but nothing I’ve done can be changed now. So you move forward and keep going.
“David and I were neighbouring MPs for seven years. We have been in touch and he’s still obviously in hospital and has been in there since April. The biggest thing is to make sure he gets better.”
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‘Milking the cows’
We met on Adziel Farm in Strichen, Aberdeenshire, where Douglas immediately looks as happy as a pig in the proverbial.
Douglas, who was raised by farm worker dad Sandy and school dinner lady mum Lesley in nearby Alves, says: “I started work on a farm when I was six or seven. I’ve always loved it.
“I used to bring the calves down from the field but sometimes they were a bit stubborn, so I’d keep a bourbon biscuit in my pocket – that would soon get them moving.”
Douglas was all set to follow in his father’s footsteps after going on to study at agricultural college in Ayrshire before politics changed the course of his life.
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In fact he was told he had been elected as a local councillor while milking the cows.
He says: “Farming was going to be my life especially after studying at college for four years. Those were great times because at one point there was 11 agricultural students staying in the one flat.
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“Sometimes when I go back down to Ayr I have good memories when I drive past Club de Mar as that was our haunt on a Wednesday night after class.
“The dream was to eventually become a dairy farmer one day. But then came politics.”
He later became the list MSP for the Highlands and Islands in 2016, going on to oust SNP big gun Angus Robertson as Moray MP the following year before being elected leader in 2020.
On top of all of that, the politician has been a top flight match official for nearly 15 years, running the line at Champions League and Europa League matches as well as countless games on home turf.
The 41-year-old, who lives with cop wife Krystle and their sons Alistair, five and James, three, says: “I was on my lunch break at the farm one day when I saw an article in the local paper saying they were looking to train up referees, so I went for it and never looked back.”
Although he admits he did get off to a shaky start.
Clarkson's Farm fan
DOUGLAS is a big fan of Clarkson’s Farm and reveals that Jeremy’s incomprehensible “head of security” Gerald Cooper is his favourite character.
He says: “My wife and I watch it and we’re looking at Gerald and we have got no idea what he’s saying.
“Then you look at Jeremy Clarkson or Kaleb when Gerald is on the walkie talkie and they have no idea either.
“But Gerald’s so passionate and you know he’s clearly saying something that he’s very enthusiastic about, but people just can’t understand him.”
In the third series of the Amazon Prime hit earlier this year fans were left shocked when the popular farm worker was seen being diagnosed then recovering from cancer.
Douglas adds: “It’s good to see him looking so well after his prostate cancer diagnosis as well.
“But I think what Clarkson’s Farm has showed so well is just how difficult farming is.
“Jeremy has shown people that it’s not as easy and it takes a lot of effort just to get the products of what they see in the supermarkets.
“There’s an awful lot of extremely hard work for sometimes very limited rewards, and it goes on from our farmers here in Scotland and right across the UK.”
He explains: “The first time I was assessed was during a local welfare’s match where the score ended 17-1.
“Afterwards my accessor told me that at least 13 of those goals had been off-side. But I’d like to think I’ve improved since then.”
And like just about everyone else in the country Douglas would rather be at Euro 2024 than casting our votes on Thursday.
He says: “I did all the training camps at the Euro 2016 in France and loved it. I sometimes put my Euro backpack on just to see if anyone notices it, but they never do.
“So I know what the guys have been through out there. Some of the referees have had a good tournament and for others it has been more difficult.”
He’s clearly talking about Argentinian referee Facundo Tello who failed to give Scotland a penalty when Stuart Armstrong was challenged by defender Willi Orban.
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Douglas says: “I actually think a lot of the Tartan Army after the game weren’t really focusing on that penalty.
“They were focusing on the tactics and the selection and the three games that we were a part of.
“But from a referee’s point of view, I can’t look at that and understand why an Argentinian referee on the pitch and a Spanish VAR official looking at all the pictures doesn’t come to the conclusion that that should have been a penalty for Scotland.”
Douglas will be looking to be running the line again in the new season, no matter the election results this week, where he’s vowed to stand down as an MSP if elected to Westminster.
Sporting hero
DOUGLAS Ross once met his sporting hero Sir Alex Ferguson but admits he would have hated to have officiated a match while the footie legend was Manchester Utd boss.
The pair got chatting while attended the 0-0 draw against England at Wembley during Euro 2020.
Douglas says: “Sir Alex has always been my hero just for the way he managed in Scotland before going on to achieve what he did at Manchester Utd.
“Of course he also has a global recognition as being a tough cookie as well.”
He adds: “I was very fortunate to go to the England vs Scotland match at Wembley during the last Euros and Sir Alex was there and we ended up discussing the referee.
“I had thought the ref had had a very good game, but Sir Alex didn’t.
“He remembered the same Spanish referee Lahoz had officiated a Manchester United game and he was still brining up how he had not been good on that night, years ago.
“So I wouldn’t have liked to have got on the wrong side of him even though I admire everything he’s done in the game.”
He says: “If the powers-that-be say I can continue that’d be great because I love doing it and have been an assistant referee for a long time now.
“It’s gained me a lot of friends who I’ve built up a strong relationship with, and it’s got me to some amazing venues, both here in Scotland and around the world.”
But first of all he will have to see if the other powers-that-be – the voters – show him the red card come Thursday.
He says: “All manner of topics have come up on the doorstep from Michael Matheson’s iPad expenses, to my own as well, but I never try to dodge the issue and give an honest answer.
“I think people do get a bit tired and weary of politicians who don’t just give a straight answer to a simple question.
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“So I’m not going to try and deny the challenges that there’s been in the campaign and I wouldn’t try to dismiss them either, but we’re into the final few days now.
“And what I do like is getting out and about and speaking to people. But I’m glad I’ve finally got to do a farm visit as that always makes me happy.”
QUICK-FIRE QUESTION TIME
SPORTING HERO: Alex Ferguson
POP HERO: Atomic Kitten
FAVOURITE MOVIE: The Shawshank Redemption
LAST BOOK YOU READ: The Woman Who Wouldn't Wheesht
TELL US A SECRET ABOUT YOURSELF: I am licenced to artificially inseminate cows
LAST TIME YOU CRIED: At my son James's third birthday
GUILTY PLEASURE: Chocolate
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