A Night to Remember

Held at The Place, Edinburgh, last Saturday the 30th Anniversary Dinner brought together founding members, lifelong supporters, and new faces for an evening of celebration. With the Gimme Gimme Gimmes, Scottie the Piper setting the tone, a hearty Scottish menu, and DJ Tam Coyle, the night was packed with laughter, memories, and a few surprises.

The highlight? A special appearance by Craig Gordon, Scotland legend and 4th highest capped player (to date), who answered our questions, posed for photos, and reminded everyone why he’s one of the most respected figures in Scottish football. His presence was a true honour for the group — and a fitting tribute to ETA’s legacy.

Thanks again to everyone who came along, the venue was excellent and all the people who made it happen (especially Gill, Adele and Marydoll for dressing the room). Special thanks to the Ardnamurchan Distillery and the Piper’s Rest for supporting the event and Craig and Summer Gordon for being our special guests.

From Hampden to Hong Kong — and Beyond

Over the past three decades, ETA members have followed Scotland through thick and thin: from the heartbreaks of near-qualification to the euphoric return to major tournaments under Steve Clarke. Whether it’s a midweek friendly or a Euros decider, the Edinburgh Tartan Army has been there — flags flying, voices raised, and hearts full. Excluding the 2 Covid matches in Israel there has been an ETA member in the city for every Scotland national team fixture since we formed in 1995. For completeness all Scotland fixtures since 5th November 1995 are included in the statistics below. Of course our members have gone well beyond that, also following the Scotland Women’s National Team to the Euros, a World Cup and many other fixtures. There have been ETA presences at many a youth team game and the odd B international too.

30 Years in Numbers

• Founded: 5th November 1995
• Major tournaments attended: 4 (and counting!)
• Total Matches: 277 (Won 116 – Drawn 58 – Lost 101 – 2 Wins on Penalties)
• Away trips (including neutral venues): 148 (51 – 33 – 63 – 1)
• Members: Currently just over 200 (600-700 over the 30 years)
• Beers sampled: Far far too many to count

More Than Just Football

ETA isn’t just about matchdays — it’s about friendship, community, and a shared love of Scotland. From travel logistics to ticket scrambles, charity fundraisers to heritage projects, the group continues to blend tradition with modern tech, tartan with touchscreen.

Here’s to the Next 30

As we look back on three decades of passion and pride, we raise a glass to everyone who’s been part of the journey. The Edinburgh Tartan Army isn’t just a supporters’ group — it’s a family.

As we approach our momentous 30th anniversary, this Thursday’s match represents three decades of unwavering support, unforgettable memories, and the unbreakable bond between Scotland’s national team and the ETA family.

 100 Games, 30 Years – The Numbers Tell Our Story

Since that first game after ETA’s formation in November 1995, we’ve witnessed:

• 46 victories – Including penalty shootout wins (46.5% win rate)
• 22 draws – Heart-stopping moments of hope and despair
• 31 defeats – But we kept coming back for more!
• 139 goals scored – An average of 1.4 goals per game
• 110 goals conceded – Keeping us on the edge of our seats
• +29 goal difference – Proof that Hampden really is our fortress!

 The Highs, The Lows, and The Unforgettable

Most Frequent Opponents at Hampden:

Our most regular visitors to the national stadium during the ETA era:

5 matches:

• Croatia (2W-2D-1L) – From World Cup qualifiers to Euro 2020 heartbreak
• Lithuania (4W-1D-0L) – Our most successful regular opponent!

4 matches:

• Israel (3W-1D-0L) – Including that unforgettable Euro 2020 playoff penalty win
• Denmark (3W-0D-1L) – Usually happy memories against the Danes
• Czechia (2W-1D-1L) – Mixed fortunes against our central European friends
• Belgium (0W-1D-3L) – The Red Devils have proven tough opponents at Hampden

Behind Closed Doors – Even Without Us, We Were There in Spirit:

During the dark days of COVID-19, 6 Hampden matches were played behind closed doors, including that unforgettable Euro 2020 playoff victory against Israel on penalties – proving that ETA spirit transcends physical presence!

The Euro 2020 Dream:

Who could forget June 2021 when limited capacity returned, and we finally saw Scotland at a major tournament again? Those Euro 2020 matches at Hampden – even with restricted numbers – reminded us why we follow this team through thick and thin.

Goals That Made Us Roar:

Over these 100 Hampden matches, we’ve witnessed some truly memorable goalscorers lighting up the national stadium. Leading the way at Hampden specifically is John McGinn with 14 goals, followed by Kenny Miller (9 goals) and Scott McTominay (7 goals) – showcasing different eras of Scottish attacking talent. We’ll never forget Sparky’s 2 free kicks against you know who.

But let’s not forget where it all began – Eoin Jess had the honor of scoring the first goal in ETA’s era during that memorable 5-0 victory over San Marino. From that moment to McGinn’s recent strikes, the 139 goals scored at Hampden during the ETA era tell the story of Scotland’s attacking evolution, with 59 different players finding the net at our national stadium, scoring 130 goals between them (with the remaining 9 coming from opponent own goals).

 Thank You to Our Unsung Heroes

None of this would be possible without the dedication of our incredible bus convenors who’ve organized countless journeys to Hampden over these 30 years. Rain or shine, qualification campaigns or friendlies, they’ve made sure ETA members could get to the games that matter. Special thanks to Neil McDonald who is still organising buses even when work commitments prevent him from travelling.

To our committee members who’ve kept ETA spirit alive through three decades – your tireless work behind the scenes has created a community that’s about so much more than just football.

And to our members – the heartbeat of ETA – thank you for 30 years of songs, scarves, hope, heartbreak, and unwavering loyalty. You’ve made every one of these 99 games special, and Thursday’s 100th will be no different.

 Looking Ahead: Our 30th Anniversary Celebration

As we celebrate this Hampden milestone, our eyes are already turning to Saturday 1st November 2025 – exactly 30 years to the day since ETA was formed. Our anniversary dinner promises to be a night to remember as we reflect on three decades of following Scotland and look forward to the next chapter of our journey.

 Three Decades of Dedication

From Craig Brown to Steve Clarke, from the pain of missed tournaments to the joy of Euro 2020 and beyond, ETA has been there. We’ve seen:

• Legendary managers come and go
• Iconic players pull on the dark blue shirt
• Historic victories that we’ll never forget
• Heartbreaking defeats that only made us stronger

Through qualification campaigns, friendlies, and major tournaments, through the highs of victory and the lows of defeat, ETA has been Scotland’s constant companion.

 Here’s to 100 More!

As we prepare for Thursday’s historic 100th game, let’s remember what makes ETA special. It’s not just about the football – it’s about the friendships forged, the memories made, and the community built around our shared love for Scotland.

So here’s to game number 100 at Hampden – and here’s to the next 100!

See you on the bus for this historic milestone match!

Mon the Scotland! Mon ETA!

ETA (Edinburgh Tartan Army) was formed on 1st November 1995 and represents Scotland supporters in Edinburgh and beyond. Our 30th Anniversary Dinner takes place on Saturday 1st November 2025.

#ETA30Years #ScotlandSupport #Hampden100 #TartanArmy

We’ll be having a raffle on the day to raise money for Andy’s Man Club, a charity that the family of ETA member Ryan Gardner are collecting for. Unfortunately Ryan passed away a couple of week’s ago. If you are able to donate a prize then please bring one. The perfect opportunity to get rid of that bottle of Georgian Cha Cha or Moldovan brandy that’s been hiding at the back of your drinks cabinet for years.
After that it’s next stop Germany.

This is not to be confused with any ETA merchandise you have ordered from Copymade, this is the campaign t-shirt only. Copymade will be in touch when the merchandise is available.

20 ETA members joined the Three Hampdens Walking Tour yesterday a joint partnership between The Glasgow Football Tour and the Hampden Collection. A fascinating insight into the history of the beautiful game of football, the home of Scottish football, the Scotch Profesors, Queens Park and asserts the claim that Scotland invented football as we know it today. It is a must for all football fans especially the Tartan Army and is a trip most of us would do again as there is so much to take in. Massive thank you to Lindsay of the Glasgow Football Tour and Graeme of the Hampden Collection for their extensive knowledge and passion for the subject. Thanks also to ETA member Gregor Cameron for taking the photographs.

A number of Tartan Army friends of the late Mark Torrance are walking from Hampden to Irvine Meadow FC on 6th May 2023 in his memory. They are raising money for The Ayrshire Hospice that was invaluable in supporting Mark and his family during his illness. A few ETA members were fortunate to meet and have some great magical moments with Mark following Scotland with some meeting him roundabout the 1998 World Cup and maybe before. ETA members Kenny Nicol, Gill Lang, Iain Beat and Neil Guthrie are joining a load of other well kent faces going on the special Memorial Walk.

If you would like to make a donation there is a Just Giving Page https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/mark-torrance

This is part of our intention to run meetings for the entire club regularly and will hopefully be followed up by a walking tour of the 3 Hampdens on Sunday June 10th and a speaker event later in the year.

This is part of our intention to run meetings for the entire club regularly and will hopefully be followed up by a walking tour of the 3 Hampdens and a s[peaker event later in the year.

Headlines from the AGM were as follows:

• Frazer Henderson replaced Brian Pollard on the committee, thanks to Brizi for all his work on the committee over the last few years, especially on social events and the switch to the Beechwood.
• Monthly subs will be increased to £5 – members are asked to increase their Standing Order payments before the buses in June otherwise they will have to pay for the bus.
• 3 committee meetings this year will be held on a Sunday with an extended invitation to all members to attend -the first will be a Quiz on Sunday 23rd April in the Mercat at 7.00pm
• Stewart Mackinlay was presented with an award by the Scottish Supporters Assocaition on behalf of the Tartan Army who were voted ‘Best Away Fans’
• The joining fee for the club has been raised to £20.
• A couple of other constitution points were updated to keep in line with current practices, see the CONSTITUTION page for details.
• ETA intend to enter football and walking football teams in the ATAC 7s in Dumfries on Sunday 7th May hosted by the Doonhamers TA.
• The bus for the Scotland v Cyprus game will return from the Beechwood Bar at 6pm rather than immediately after the game to allow members to have a post match aperitif and the traffic to disperse.
• Members are invited to suggest alternative venue to the Queensberry Bowling Club for next years AGM, any proposals should include details about the venue and the room for themeeting, what is the capacity and the ability to run a tab for us.