The Tartan Army received a heroes’ send-off in Boston before fans began arriving in Miami this weekend. Scotland supporters who travelled across the pond for our opening two World Cup matches have left a lasting impression on the city, with many locals sad to see us go.
Tens of thousands of fans made the trip across as we explored the city, took in the baseball, and drank the pubs dry – giving a major economic boost to the area.
Steve Marino, 53, is a driver captain on the city’s famous duck cruise tours – which hundreds of Scots enjoyed during their time in Boston. Steve told the Record: “It has been fantastic having all the Scots in town.
“I can’t tell you how fantastic it has been. They’ve been positive, they’ve spent a lot of money, they’re happy. There’s nothing but positives across the board.
“We’ve had Scots on the cruises – I just wish I had the kilt as part of my uniform, but maybe next time! I have nothing but compliments for the Tartan Army.
View 6 ImagesSteve Marino has loved having the Tartan Army on his duck cruise tours(Image: Tony Nicoletti/Daily Record)
“I’ll be watching the Scots and cheering you on during the rest of the tournament, there’s no doubt about it. We would love to have the Scots back any time.”
Steve also explained how he was left in hysterics arriving at work one morning to find a traffic cone had been placed on a huge dinosaur statue that sits beside their ticket office.
“It’s a mystery,” said Steve. “I know you have the Loch Ness Monster back home, this was a mystery too. The cone somehow ended up on the dinosaur’s head. We don’t know how it got there.
“When we’ve been doing our tours, we’ve seen these cones on places you could not even imagine. Everyone has been loving it, it’s given us all a good laugh.”
Scott Holt, creative director from New Hampshire, is a big USA soccer fan and said it’s been “unbelievable” having the Tartan Army in town.
View 6 ImagesScott Holt said the Scotland fans have ‘rejuvenated the city'(Image: Tony Nicoletti/Daily Record)
The 49-year-old said: “It’s rejuvenated the city. It’s been great energy. To a man, everyone here has enjoyed having the Scots in town – 100 per cent.
“It’s just been brilliant all round. It’s been such good fun. It’s been nice to have people come over and see America – not just for divisive politics – but for the welcoming people as well.
“We would love to have you guys back. There’s been talk of bringing you back once a year – let’s do it. I’ll be watching the Scots and wishing you well. Go Scotland!”
Meanwhile, local newspaper The Boston Globe penned a heartfelt letter to the Scotland fans who visited Massachusetts for the World Cup.
Taking up a full page in Friday’s edition of the 150-year-old daily paper, the letter read: “Dear Tartan Army, You came for the World Cup, but gave us something more.
“For a week, you turned train stations into sing-alongs, Fenway into a football ground, and an ordinary June into something we’ll be talking about for years.
“Boston has hosted championships, parades, and celebrations of every kind. But we’ve never hosted guests quite like you all.
“Thank you for the laughter, the bagpipes and the memories. The World Cup will move on. So will the songs, but we’ll never forget the joy you brought to our city.”
And Sam Kennedy, president of the Boston Red Sox baseball team, thanked the Tartan Army for their support, adding that the fans showed spirit that “has no equivalent in American sport”.
Supporters have now started arriving in Miami, as fans slapped on the sun cream and headed out into the sweltering midday sun, as temperatures reached as high as 35C on Sunday.
View 6 ImagesKaren and Michael Dunnery are among the Scots to have arrived in Miami(Image: Tony Nicoletti/Daily Record)
Karen Dunnery and her husband Michael, both retired civil servants in their 60s, have just arrived in the city. Karen said: “We just arrived yesterday afternoon. We got up early this morning to get out and explore and take in this glorious weather.
“We’re looking forward to meeting up with some friends tonight who are coming from Boston. Even walking down the street here, joggers have come by and shouted ‘No Scotland, No Party’. They already know. The locals seem really excited that we are here.”
Michael said: “We didn’t do Boston, we knew the weather would be great here so we just concentrated on going to Miami.
“We’re going to be watching the Brazil match from the fan zone. I think that will be fantastic. It’s been great to see all the nationalities here already. It’s going to be a blast.”
William Bannister, a 69-year-old retired civil engineer, and his son Neal, a 39-year-old who works in the civil service, have arrived in Miami after travelling from Boston.
View 6 ImagesWilliam and Neal Bannister will be at the Scotland-Brazil game(Image: Tony Nicoletti/Daily Record)
William, from Cumbernauld, said: “It is absolutely superb to be here. I’m 69 years young and I’m taking my oldest boy to our first World Cup away. It’s absolutely stupendous.
“We had a great time in Boston at the Red Sox match and we’re going to go to the Miami Marlins tomorrow – I don’t even know who they are playing, but it doesn’t matter. It should be some laugh! I don’t think we will be able to drink Miami dry, but we will try our best.”
Neal added: “I’m melting, but it’s fantastic to be here. We’re just here to have fun. We’ve got tickets, we’re so looking forward to seeing the atmosphere and to hear the national anthem again.”
View 6 ImagesIain Porter, Billy Taylor, and Alan Taylor say the atmosphere is ramping up in Miami(Image: Tony Nicoletti/Daily Record)
Meanwhile Iain Porter, a 50-year-old who works in IT and is from Edinburgh, Billy Taylor, a 58-year-old builder also from the capital, and Alan Taylor, 54, from Aberdeen, arrived in Miami on Friday.
Billy said: “It has been absolutely brilliant to be here. Too hot – but superb. I’ve got no words to describe this heat. It’s roasting. But this is such an amazing place.”
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Alan, who also works in IT, added: “We arrived on Friday and we’ve got tickets to go and see Uruguay against Cape Verde tonight then the Brazil game on Wednesday, we just can’t wait for that.
“The atmosphere is just picking up now. You can see more and more Scotland fans arriving now. You can really feel it building. It’s going to be great.”
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