HE was at the opening of the Commonwealth Games as well as Andy Murray’s Wimbledon triumph and he also presented the Ryder Cup at Gleneagles but, if it was not for a packed and busy schedule the former First Minister of Scotland Alex Salmond would like nothing better than to be at a certain sporting spectacle taking place at Netherdale on Saturday.

Several members of the Salmond family will be at the 3G Arena on Saturday for the William Hill Scottish Cup 1st Round tie between two of the most romantic names in Scottish non-league football as Gala Fairydean Rovers entertain his former hometown team of Linlithgow Rose.

Whilst he cannot be there in person, Mr Salmond had provided an interview for Gala Fairydean Rovers' award winning match-day programme where he talks about growing up in Linlithgow, early memories of watching the “Gallant Rosey Posey” and his views on the restoration of the Borders Railway. In the exclusive interview for the match programme, the MP reveals that Linlithgow retains, “a special place in my heart. It was (and is) simply a great place to grow up - big enough to be exciting and small enough to have real community spirit - a bit like Gala”.

He goes onto talk about some of the great players he has witnessed whilst following the Rose such as , “Colin Grant - a deadly modern forward of real skill and pace” who Salmond rates as, “even better than Colin Stein of Hibs, Rangers and Scotland and the other junior legend of that same year.”

He concludes the interview by stating; “I think the Waverley Line to the Borders (as I like to call it) is one of the most crucial economic and visitor investments in modern Scotland. Particularly when the Great Tapestry of Scotland becomes located at Tweedbank, it will allow the Borders to reclaim their rightful place at the very centre of Scottish life - one of my better decisions as First Minister and a tribute to all those campaigners over so many years.”

The full interview will be available in the programme and will be on sale at Saturday’s cup-tie. Also included will be a look back at Gala Fairydean’s first ever Scottish Cup tie against Scotland’s current top team Aberdeen at Pittodrie in 1920.