Last updated 11:24, Monday, 01 December 2008

IN ENGLAND, WAGs – wives and girlfriends of footballers – have acquired a rather unsavoury reputation.

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Lindsey Archibald on Border Television

Their presence at the 2006 World Cup was blamed for England’s disappointing performances, along with the manager’s lack of authority and the sun being in our eyes.

But north of the border the term ‘WAG’ still seems to be used as a compliment. Former Border TV presenter Lindsey Archibald, who spent three years at the station before leaving last year, now works for Rangers TV in Glasgow.

Flame-haired Lindsey has betrayed her ginger roots by dyeing her hair blonde. According to the News of the World she has had “a WAG makeover to look like goalie’s girl Leah Shevlin.”

Leah is the girlfriend of Rangers goalkeeper Allan McGregor. And the resemblance with Lindsey is indeed extraordinary. They both have the same colour hair and the same number of eyes and ears.

What really caught Reiver’s eye with this story, even more than Lindsey’s hair, was the quotes.

Reiver has interviewed hundreds of people during his time in journalism, but he has yet to encounter anyone who speaks like every anonymous source quoted in the News of the World. According to the paper, one Rangers fan said: “Lindsey was always a looker but she’s promoted to the Premier League.”

This same source is doubtless over the moon whenever Rangers win a match, and quite possibly sick as a parrot when they don’t.