Meeting of the Parliament 14 January 2026
I know that Ms Sturgeon and her family are big supporters of Ayr United. I have gone down there for many a pre-season game. Our teams have never been in the same leagues—St Mirren are normally in the top echelons of football—but it is a nice trip down to Ayr on a Saturday for a wee friendly.
Football can give us moments such as Kenny McLean scoring from the halfway line against Denmark. It provides sheer joy when Scotland qualify for the world cup, as the First Minister acknowledged when he stated that we should have a bank holiday on the Monday after the first game of our world cup finals.
On that point, I was reminded by Advice Direct Scotland that, for some people, following football can be very expensive. Last year, the charity urged Scotland fans to enjoy the excitement of the 2026 world cup responsibly, but to try to avoid falling into financial difficulty. With the tournament set to take place in North America, the costs of attending could be astronomical and could easily run into thousands of pounds, so the charity has urged supporters to think twice before borrowing money or using high-interest credit in order to fund such trips.
Nevertheless, football unites us in Scotland, even when we are arguing over the ins and outs of the game. There is much to be said about the latest controversy, on the use of the video assistant referee—VAR—but, in order to keep the play flowing, I will say just one thing. Could we not go down the same route as rugby and the National Football League, in which the microphones are live and we can hear the decisions that the referees are making? However, that is an example of how the game brings us all together, regardless of our backgrounds, even when we have opposing views on the subject.
In Paisley, we always look after our own, and St Mirren proves that every day. Under the leadership of Gayle Brannigan, the club’s community work supports people of all ages, from weans kicking their first football to adults getting back into fitness. It is not just about sport—it is about confidence, belonging and giving people a chance to be part of something bigger.
The work goes beyond the pitch, too, supporting families, older residents and people who are facing real challenges, and strengthening the very fabric of our town. St Mirren is the heartbeat of Paisley and, through partnerships with organisations such as the University of the West of Scotland, it creates real pathways into education, skills and opportunity. All that comes from a fan-owned, community-based football team.