Ten Questions: Dougie McDonald

Published on Saturday 19 September 2009 11:09

Dougie McDonald, 43, is a transport planning consultant and referee. He lives in Granton

1 What is your earliest memory of Edinburgh? From an early age I spent Saturdays with my grandmother. We always visited the Botanic Gardens and I have fantastic memories of hide and seek around the rock garden!

2 What are your memories of school? I attended the brand new Mauricewood Primary School and remember that the new football pitch was left in a terrible state by the builder. Our teacher organised the football team to crawl all over the field picking out stones one weekend – we then had a pitch I could show my poor skills on!

3 Where is your favourite place in Edinburgh, and why? The Botanic Gardens – a wonderful resource.

4 What are the best things about Edinburgh? Its range of good restaurants, quality housing areas and special open spaces such as Holyrood Park.

5 What would you change about the city? I'd like to see a wider range of international flights from Edinburgh Airport and more grass training facilities with floodlights.

6 Describe a perfect Edinburgh day/night out Training in the morning followed by lunch in a Bruntsfield Bistro and a drive out to the Pentland Hills.

7 Which sports interest you Football, football and football, it's all I have time for. Although I'd watch any sport on TV in preference to a soap!

8 What was your most embarrassing moment? During a match at St Johnstone a male streaker ran on the field. At one point I thought he was going to show me unwelcome attention and so did the players. I was mortified!

9 What is your greatest achievement? Becoming a father. My wife Sue and I are very proud of our daughters Katy and Julie, who are wonderful children. I'm glad they're not interested in football, though. On the professional side, being promoted to the FIFA International list of referees in 2000 was special.

10 Sum up Edinburgh in three words. I'm home, great!