The Richard Spooner Column: Mixed emotions north of the border�
As a postscript to the rather disappointing outcome to events at Wembley Stadium on Sunday, I was amused by a couple of items which popped into my inbox this week.
Of course, disappointment in England was not shared north of the border, where some commentators said their dream outcome was for England to be beaten on penalties. I hope they 're satisfied.
In fact one pro-Scottish independence daily newspaper were so ecstatic that it gifted lifetime subscriptions to the Italian national football team after their Euro 2020 victory.
It comes after the Glasgow-based daily The National declared Italy to be 'The Final Hope ' on Saturday 's front page, depicting Italian manager Robert Mancini as William Wallace in Braveheart.
Mr Mancini himself had acknowledged the front page made him “chuckle ”, and The National has now also bought him a Scotland shirt with 'The Bruce ' on the back after dubbing him 'Roberto The Bruce '.
Should you feel that everyone north of the border is so anti-English, take heart from the next item in the same bulletin of Hold The Front Page, an online daily distributed to the media.
A former Scottish journalist has been appointed to a very British UK establishment position as one of the Queen 's official representatives in the area where he lives.
Mike Edwards, former sports correspondent at Aberdeen daily newspaper the Press & Journal, has been unveiled as deputy lord lieutenant of Dunbartonshire. The 56-year-old retired from frontline journalism in 2019 after a 40-year newspaper, radio and TV career.
He is now an author, charity trustee and Army reserve officer.
Mike is very much “on message ” when he says: “My life and career were hardly altruistic and I was all about getting to work on the big stories, and getting my next book published, and working towards my next Army promotion.
“All that has changed, and I am now doing all I can to give something back. I have time and energy and want to help people who need it, rather than write stories about them.
“I was appointed deputy lieutenant totally out of the blue and it is a huge honour. I am very much looking forward to getting out and about in the community and meeting people once Covid restrictions allow me to. I cannot wait to get started. ”
I don 't know Mike 's politics or his interest in sport, but it 's good to know that not everyone in Scotland is turning on those of us south of the border who maybe a little crestfallen�
JL