‘Tartan Banger’ trio launch appeal to support Mikeysline ahead of Scotland’s second crunch Euros tie
With less than 36 hours to go before Scotland meet Switzerland in their second Euros group game, the “Tartan Banger” is now on the road to Cologne — and its crew are hoping their long drive can turn into a fundraising drive for a prominent Highland mental health charity.
Since leaving Scotland a week ago, banger trio, Scott Miller from Brora, and Terry Stirling and Andy Cameron from Alness, have become Tartan Army favourites as they travel across Germany, stopping for photographs with supporters and attracting the attention of radio and TV personalities.
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34-year-old Scott, from Brora, snapped up the 2008 Volvo S40 for just £400 after spotting it on Facebook last December, before deciding to turn it into his mode of transport for getting to Germany to support Scotland in the Euros.
The mechanic gave the 16-year-old ‘banger’ a complete makeover — adorning in tartan, with a raft of sponsors and Tartan Army emblems affixed to its body, such as Irn Bru stickers and a label reading: “Hand of God, Diego Maradona legend”.
It has since been signed by countless supporters since it made its way across to Munich last week.
Scott said: “It’s fairly hard to put into words how well we’ve been received. It’s extraordinary to be fair. We did an interview with comedian Susie McCabe in a Bavarian village earlier, and we just spoke to Radio 5 Live. Good Morning Britain are wanting to meet us in Cologne tomorrow.
“We did not see any of this coming. Terry’s left hand is dead, everyone who passes toots and waves. People are stopping us for photos. We have a white marker pen for people to sign the car.
“We knew there would be a bit of craic about it, but we never saw this coming. It’s a really cool thing, it’s something we’ll look back on in 20 years very fondly and reminisce.”
The Scotland die-hards have now set up a JustGiving page to encourage anyone supporting their journey to also support the mental health support charity, Mikeysline.
Scott added: “We only had a wee tin with us for accepting donations, so we decided to set up a JustGiving page to accept donations while we’re on this journey.
“We know how bad the mental health struggle can be in the Highlands and how much stigma there is around it.
“For us personally, the three of us all have all been affected by suicide.
“Myself and Andy have lost friends, and Terry more so than us, has lost his father, his brother and his nephew all to suicide. So it’s a charity very close to his heart, with these tragedies in mind, and a fitting charity for all three for us who have all been affected.”
But as Scott rides the wave of excitement their “once in a lifetime” banger journey has brought, he remains cautiously realistic when it comes to his beloved nation’s chances.
“In terms of the football, I’d like to be confident, but I’m not,” he said. “You can’t have the run of ten games that we’ve had and then just pluck confidence out of nowhere.
“I don’t think we’re in a great place, but I hope I’m wrong. I hope I have to eat my words and we maybe even get a draw and get a result against Hungary. It is Scotland at the end of the day.
“We are the Tartan Army and we remain ever optimistic.”
To donate to the “Tartan Banger” Mikeysline fundraising page, visit justgiving.com/page/s-1718545540164.
Followers can keep up to date with the lads’ Euros adventure by following their “Tartan Banger” page on Instagram at instagram.com/the_tartan_banger_.
