Tartan Army fans have drunk Boston dry ahead of Scotland’s first World Cup match in 28 years, as celebrities including Gerard Butler descend on the city ahead of the game.
Swathes of Scots have crossed the Atlantic to make the team’s opening match against Haiti on Saturday evening, however, it appears they have depleted the city’s booze supply in the ongoing pre-match festivities.
Writing on X, one man posted a message from a friend in Boston saying she had overheard a pub owner tell staff beer was in short supply – prompting the venue to order more to ensure their Scottish visitors are replenished.
He said: ‘Friend is over in Boston for the World Cup with her Scottish husband, and the Tartan Army are drinking the city dry for it seems: “Pub owner talking to his staff: We don’t have enough beer, we’re running out. I need to order more”.’
The city’s dry spell comes only days after planes travelling from Scotland to the Massachusetts capital were reportedly ‘running out of beer’ as Tartan Army fans made the journey.
NBC reporter Brianna Borghi was at Boston’s Logan International Airport covering the arrival of the Scots when she was told that beer supplies were near empty on an arriving flight.
She said: ‘Scottish fans are arriving here at Logan Airport and get this. They told us their plane ran out of beer so you know they are not messing around.’
Yet the depletion has not dampened the city’s festivities, with famous Scottish faces like Gerard Butler, Martin Compston and Richard Gadd showing their support for the team’s first World Cup game in almost three decades.
Actor Gerard Butler showed his support for the Tartan Army in Boston ahead of Saturday’s game against Haiti
Martin Compston and broadcaster Gordon Smart attended the dinner, with the pair both clad in Scotland football tops
Richard Gadd, star of Netflix’s Baby Reindeer, wore traditional Highlander dress including a plaid kilt and black sporran
The celebs descended on the US city on Friday for a Scottish Night in Boston Dinner Gala ahead of Saturday’s game, which begins at 9pm, or 2am BST.
The Scots, who were joined by the country’s First Minister John Swinney, were greeted by a traditional piper as they were photographed arriving at Boston’s Royale venue.
Butler, star of historical action film 300, donned a kilt and Tartan Army jersey, giving the waiting cameras a cheery thumbs up as he entered the event.
Former footballer-turned-actor Compston, who recently featured in ITV’s Red Eye, followed suit alongside Edinburgh-born broadcaster Gordon Smart, with the pair both clad in Scotland football tops.
Comedian Gadd, who rose to fame in Netflix’s Baby Reindeer, smiled while making his way to the dinner, choosing to wear traditional Highlander dress including a plaid kilt and black sporran.
Also pictured arriving at the gala were some of Scotland’s most notable sports stars, including footballers James McFadden and Darren Fletcher, alongside the president of the Scottish Football Association, Mike Mulraney, who appeared in a tartan-covered car.
Neil Doncaster, chief executive of the Scottish Premier League was also spotted entering the dinner, as was Gregor Townsend, former rugby union player and head coach of the Scotland national rugby team.
The Tartan Army will face Haiti at Boston’s Gillette Stadium, marking the first ever World Cup game for the Caribbean nation and Scotland’s first World Cup match in 28 years.
First Minister of Scotland John Swinney also crossed the Atlantic ahead of the Tartan Army game
Earlier this week, celebrity chef Gordon Ramsay also marked the momentous occasion by visiting Steve Clarke’s team at their Boston training grounds.
Ramsay, speaking to The Sun about the ‘electrifying’ visit, said he individually wished each team member the best of luck – and also revealed the men asked if they could dine at his exclusive London restaurant, Lucky Cat, if they are victorious on Saturday night.
Ramsay said: ‘Yeah, very best of luck to the lads. This has been a long time coming and it’s so good to see you back on the world stage and leave your mark on it.
‘I went round them all, honestly. I mean, they were also asking if they can get a table at Bishopsgate, Lucky Cat, ’cause they’ve just seen the doc on Netflix.
‘I’m saying, win the f*****g game, I’ll give you a table, okay?!’
Ramsay was also videoed on the team’s Instagram account being presented with a special Scotland top, printed with the number 26 on the back, by the team’s captain Andy Robertson.
And the hundreds of Tartan Army supporters that have charged into Boston ahead of the match have also displayed a similar enthusiasm.
The city’s bars have been covered in Scotland’s national Saltire flag, with Scottish pub The Haven displaying a huge flag denoting the slogan ‘The Party’s Back’ outside.
Celebrity chef Gordon Ramsay marked the momentous occasion by visiting Steve Clarke’s team at their Boston training grounds
Swathes of Tartan Army supporters that have charged on the Massachusetts capital ahead of the match
Tartan Army supporters went viral online after they were captured playing the bagpipes outside thier Airbnb
One group of supporters have gone viral on social media after being recorded playing the bagpipes outside an Airbnb where they are staying, also decorated with Scottish flags.
Documenting the incident on X, Mike Morrison, a Mass General Brigham communications official, wrote: ‘In the dead of night the Scots arrived at the Airbnb across the street. Decked out and playing the pipes at 6:30 am. So it begins…’
And plans for the Tartan Army to get to and from the games are equally jovial.
More than 1,000 fans are expected to arrive at ‘Boston Stadium’ in Foxborough using a fleet of yellow school buses.
Tartan Army fan Gregor Cowan detailed the plan to Boston.com in May.
He said: ‘Size-wise, I don’t know what they’re like inside.
‘Maybe a few Scots struggling to keep their knees out of somebody else. But it’ll be absolutely fine – we’ve plenty of beer.
‘I don’t think we’ll even realize that we’re on these school buses.’
