Tartan Army

Verified Timeline

Lore & Background

The group was criticised in the 1970s for hooliganism, particularly after invading the Wembley pitch and destroying goalposts following a 2–1 win against England in 1977. In 1979, 349 arrests were made at Wembley, prompting the Scottish Sports Minister to apologise and leading to the creation of the Scotland Travel Club in 1980 to encourage responsible behaviour. The club was renamed the Scotland Supporters Club in 2005, reaching a maximum capacity of 35,000 members by August 2010. Despite past issues, the group earned a Fair Play prize from the Belgian Olympic Committee after a 2002 World Cup qualifier and was named best supporters at Euro 92.

In Their Own Story

In 1979, 349 arrests were made at Wembley Stadium during a British Home Championship match against England. Two years later, the Scotland Travel Club helped create a 'family atmosphere' at the 1982 World Cup in Spain, where an estimated 20,000 supporters travelled. By 1998, over 30,000 fans made the trip to France, earning praise from BBC News as one of the tournament's highlights. In 2007, 15,000 supporters marched through Paris before Scotland's victory over France. More recently, during Euro 2024 in Germany, an estimated 200,000 supporters attended despite many lacking tickets, filling Marienplatz with kilts and bagpipes.

Reader's Guide

The organisation focuses on encouraging responsible behaviour among travelling fans. Membership to the Scotland Supporters Club guarantees one ticket for all home fixtures and offers opportunities to apply for away match tickets. The group is known for its distinctive appearance, often wearing tartan, and has a history of charitable activities. While matches against England were stopped after 1989 due to violence, the 2013 match at Wembley saw 25,000 fans travel, filling Trafalgar Square fountains with washing up liquid.

Did You Know?

• The Scotland Travel Club was established in 1980 after 349 arrests were made at Wembley Stadium in 1979.
• An estimated 200,000 supporters travelled to Germany for UEFA Euro 2024, with many attending without match tickets.
• During the 2026 World Cup opening match against Haiti, a sound level of 125 decibels was recorded at Gillette Stadium, the highest ever measured at a World Cup match at that time.
• The Tartan Army received widespread recognition for their positive impact on host communities during Euro 2024, with an RTL poll naming them the tournament's best supporters.
• In 2013, 25,000 fans travelled to London for Scotland's first match against England at Wembley in 14 years.