Family divided as big Euro battle looms

THREE Moffat kids with Scottish and English heritage will split their allegiances tonight as the two nations go head-to-head in the European Football Championships.

Aileen Barker, originally from Kirkgunzeon near Dalbeattie, and her husband Brad, who hails from Wakefield and runs the Dumfries-based Cool and Easy Air Conditioning, were met with a dilemma when the historical neighbouring rivals were drawn in the same group at the tournament.

Questions over which side their children, Lilly, aged three; seven year-old Charlie; and Ollie, who turns ten on the day of the big match, would support led Aileen to hatch a plan.

She said: “There’s a bit of rivalry between us all and Charlie and Ollie have mixed loyalties as to who they would support.

“What we ended up dong was taking a Scotland strip and an England strip and we halved them. We cut them up and sewed the opposite sides so they’ve got a half Scottish, half English strip.

“It’s Ollie’s birthday so he’s going to have a few wee friends over after school and once they go we’ll have adult friends over, but as a family we’ll sit down and watch the game and try not to argue too much.”

Alieen joked that “Scotland appear to have the edge by 3-2” as they were photographed in their hybrid strips this week, adding: “Let’s hope the same thing happens on Friday!”