Channel 5 often have the television rights to show Scotland matches live (this was certainly the case for EURO 2000 qualifying matches).
There are a couple of books written by longserving footsoldiers which give a rather amusing insight into the antics of the tropps when 'on tour'.
Over The Top with the Tartan Army, by Dr Andrew A. McArthur, £7.99, Published by Luath Press, Edinburgh, Scotland.
A great read and true to life insight into the barmy goings on when on 'active service' between 1992 and 1997. Amazingly, it is all true.
Tales of the Tartan Army, by Ian Black, £8.99, Published by Mainstream Publishing, Edinburgh, Scotland (ISBN 1 85158 899 X).
This book looks at travelling with the troops as far back as the 82 World Cup and more or less stops at the 1990 World Cup. Its not quite such a good read as the more recent OTT book but may be of interest to some of the older veterans of earlier campaigns.
'Haggis Supper'
A long serving footsoldier, Kevin Donnelly, now publishes a Scotland fanzine which fills a long time gap for such a publication. First published in early 1999, Haggis Supper is now at Issue 3 (issued in September 1999) and is issued approximately 4 times per year. Copies can be purchased at most Scotland games or from Haggis Supper themselves (or Shaggis Hupper as pre-match revelers have been known to call it!). Copies of all issues are still available. Individual issues cost £1.25 a copy (including p&p) and subscriptions (covering 5 issues) can be taken out at £6.00 for UK addresses and £8.50 for Europe and anywhere else world-wide (both include all p&p costs). Cheques, payable to Haggis Supper can be to Haggis Supper, PO Box 28230, London, N21 1DO. Alternatively, click on by e-mail.
We'll Support You Evermore - A Life With The Tartan Army
Another long serving footsodier Ronnie McDevitt has written a book with the above title. It catalogues Ronnies travels as a footsoldier during the past 20 years. The nefarious acts of many characters such as "Frank the Wank from Clydebank", Jacobite John and Desert Fox are all revealed. The book is available from all half decent bookshops at a price of £9.99 (ISBN 1 901984 02 8).
'The Tartan Army - Scottish World Cup Anthems', Cherry Red Records, Unit 17, 1st Floor, Elysium Gate West, 126-128 New Kings Road, London, SW6 4LZ, Telephone 0171-371-5844.
Available on cassette or CD, this will be a tenner well spent to take you as far back as 'Allys Tartan Army' with about 20 World Cup Classics all told you can relive all those Rod Stewart efforts and several of those crooning World Cup squads killing perfectly acceptable songs! You can even order it on-line.
Several people had noted places where they often watched Scotland games when they weren't able to attend it themselves. It seemed like a good idea at the time to begin a list of places which endevour to show Scotland games live - so here it is ...
The William Wallace, 44 Blanford Street, Marylebone , London, W1H 3LB, Tel: 0171-935-5963
Scottish styled pub and restaurant in Central London. Several Scottish ales on draught and Scottish snacks and meals. Close to Baker Street underground (5 mins walk).
Queen Victoria, Plenkertstraat 11, NL-6301 GK, Valkenburg, The Netherlands. Tel: +31-(0)43-601-0264 or 0549
Scottish run pub with Scottish beers on draught, bar snacks available. In the heart of Valkenburg (close to Maastricht). Big Screen sports action. HQ of the Dutch Tartan Army.
Kitty O'Hanlons, 5 St Andrew Street, Plymouth, England.
This place has two TV's at opposite ends of the bar and providing one match is on terrestial and the other on Satellite they will show the Scottish game. This even means you can get to see the likes of the Cup Final.
Rabbies Bar, 10 Regency Square, Brighton (directly up from the West Pier). Tel: 01273-722214.
Highlights include McEwan's on tap, drunken Scots, Old Firm bickering, friendly bar staff, English guests (the bar is actually in a hotel - the Pavilion - hence why it's not listed in the phone book) and two telly's, one in the upper bar, and a second downstairs in the pool room.
Finally, there are a few ways in which to use the internet to acquire yourself some tartan army kit !
The Toffs company who make those natty older style shirts ... i.e. 60, 70s and 80s replicas are on-line and can sell world-wide through the internet.
Alternatively, doing a web search on 'Football Shirts' in Alta-Vista and some other major search engines normally turns up a host of vendors (Scotland are 'Umbro' manufactured).
Finally, London Scotland Supporters Club (Lunnain Albannaich) have various good quality t-shirts, including a world cup tour t-shirt at 10 GBP + p&p. They have details of these on their web site.