The Guernsey Tartan Army

The Guernsey Tartan Army

Who are The Guernsey Tartan Army

The Guernsey Tartan Army (GTA) are a group of Scots living and working in Guernsey, fiercly patriotic and proud to support the Scottish national football team. Our members are from all corners of Scotland including the Islands off the West Coast and support Scottish club sides as diverse as Aberdeen, Celtic, Dundee United, Hibernian, Hearts, Motherwell, Queen of the South, Rangers and Ross County. Some of the members have lived in Guernsey half of their life but remain as patriotic as ever. The main aim is supporting the national team and, hopefully, enjoy a victory here and there. The army travels to as many away games as possible and at least one or two each year. However, enjoying the local culture (and beer!) in the various cities visited and making friends with the locals is also high on the agenda, and so too is promoting the Island of Guernsey of course.

Contacting The Guernsey Tartan Army

If anyone is interested in joining the GTA on a future trip, or would like to experience the company of the lads in a local Guernsey hostelry to watch a Scottish game they may not be able to attend in person, please contact Grant Howitt on ghowitt@cwgsy.net
Please feel welcome to join us.

Origins of the Guernsey Tartan Army

The origins of the GTA date back to 1998 when a group of lads, including some of the current GTA members, visited France for the 1998 World Cup Finals. In addition to watching the Scotland-Norway game in Bordeaux, they enjoyed 2 fantastic nights in the city sampling the world renowned red wine of course. This whetted the appetite and the following year two founding members, Kenny Lloyd and Grant Howitt, travelled to a Euro qualifier in Prague experiencing a wonderful time in a beautiful city. The following year Kenny and Grant were joined by Paul Brady for a game against San Marino and enjoyed the pleasure of staying in Rimini for a few days. This was the first occasion where the name, Guernsey Tartan Army was emblazoned on the travelling t-shirts. In 2001, a larger group travelled to Brussels for a crucial World Cup qualifier against Belgium and special t-shirts were designed to include the now familiar logo/emblem - an outline of the map of Guernsey filled in with the Scottish Saltire. The Guernsey Tartan Army was now really and truly in existence.

On Tour with The Lads

There have been many funny stories but there is the old adage "what goes on on tour, stays on tour" and we must remain true to this pledge.
However, a couple of stories spring to mind:

In a lively bar in Rimini one night, the pub was heaving and a great time was being had by all. It was standing room only and one of the GTA was standing on a chair near what he believed was a solid wall. Suddenly, he leant against the "wall" which turned out to be a panel in the style of a barn-door. Before he knew it, the door flung wide open and he fell out onto the pavement. Having dusted himself down, he came back into the pub rather flustered to roars of laughter from those who witnessed the event. You may have watched the famous sketch in Only Fools & Horses where Delboy falls at the bar, it was very similar and would also have made great comedy!

One rainy afternoon in Dortmund and before a game against Germany that evening, the GTA and some other Scots fans were huddled under large umbrellas in the main city square having a laugh and enjoying the local brew. Some passing local constabulary joined us for a chat. A young, good looking policewoman happened to mention she and her colleagues had placed a bet with some of their other colleagues back at the station, that they could get a kilt off of a Scotsman.
Our first reaction was kilts are too expensive just to give away, even to a tasty little German fraulein. Grant had a brainwave! Brian, prior to the trip, did not own his own kilt and borrowed Grant's "casual" kilt which had been purchased for £35. After a bit of discussion, the GTA agreed with the girl she could have her kilt but only if she would provide the GTA with a police uniform in exchange. The officers disappeared back to their station and promptly returned with relevant trousers, jacket, hat, beret - the full works.
This was followed by rapturous applause and howls of laughter when the police girl proceeded to change into her 'new' kilt in the back of the police wagon, parked just off the square.
Next morning as the lads were waiting for a train and passing time talking with several other Scots lads of their exploits and stories, one laddie said he had heard of a most amazing story of a bunch of Scots lads and a local policewoman swapping one of their kilts for a uniform!

Tour Memories

Previous Slide	Next Slide

Free DHTML scripts provided by
Dynamic Drive