“Those Days Are Past Now” - Why it Feels Good to Follow Scotland Again

“O’ Flower of Scotland, when will we see your like again?”

In which sport do you follow our national team? Rugby, football, both… or is it neither?

For as long as I have been tall enough to see in the stands, I have been an avid fan of our thistle and lion rampant adorned international villains: who have, of recent, became heroes.

Embarking on a, usually rain-filled, trip to Murrayfield or Hampden was always seen as a joyless pilgrimage – off to have our faith tested, not restored.

But, no more!

Our football team made a short appearance at the Euro’s, have qualified for the play-offs for the world cup and our rugby team are in good tid too, only faltering, so far, in their internationals this year to the World Champions South Africa.

Scotland team celebrating their 2-0 victory vs Denmark. Source - Getty Images

Are we in a golden era for our Unicorns? Will we see the like again, or is this merely the start of something special?

We have standout players in both rugby and football sides; talismans to drag our miserable, calloused hearts out of the mud and into the shiny glimmers of something that feels like hope. Andy Robertson has valiantly led our footballers in recent campaigns, with shining talents like McGinn, Tierney, Gilmour, McGregor, and Co. providing a solid and youthful framework, to build all that is good from. The same can be said for the rugby side, Stuart Hogg being the captain and lynchpin, with vice captains Finn Russell and Jamie Ritchie being instrumental in that success, and try scoring sensations like Duhan Van Der Merwe adding some flare and clinical ability we have been severely lacking.

Those days are past now, and in the past, they must remain!

Our national anthem speaks of much darker times, but if Robert the Bruce had to endure the 4-0 thrashing, we took from Belgium in 2018, or any of the so-close-but-so-far six nations campaigns of recent years, I think he may beg to differ! As he penned, though, we must not look in the rear-view mirror but instead at the road ahead.

The Tartan Army have a clear marching route ahead to the play-offs for the World Cup for Qatar 2022, and our rugby fans have experienced a tantalising Autumn international run, dampened only slightly by the recent loss, which leaves them in a solid place as they face Japan this weekend, before the Six Nations next year.

Above all, we can actually get on the scoreboard these days! I have lost count of the number of games I have endured where we simply struggled to ruffle the net or get near the try line; these days, however, we have exorcised those demons that stopped us from giving the crowd something to cheer about. Seeing Scottish names on a football scoreboard that don’t have (OG) next to them and roaring in adulation as a thistle-clad player crosses the try line (instead of watching Chris Paterson hauling us onto the scoreboard with his impeccable kicks) are now commonplace!

But we can still rise now, and be that nation again

So, what does the future look like for our national sides: Will we see a triumphant World Cup or Euros win for our footballers in the next few years? Will we see our first Six Nations victory of this millennium? I certainly hope we continue with the trajectory we have been taking - the only way was up after all!

I think that it only feels as good as it does right now because of the struggles and hard times though; our teams have fallen from the heady achievements of our forebears, but the nation of fans has never lost hope… self-deprecating, humorous slander aside of course.

I for one, am singing ‘O Flower of Scotland’ with even more pride these days, and with more hope. Whether I am lucky enough to be in the stands or at home, the bagpipes opening the anthem raise every hair I possess; and, you can be sure, I will have little that represents a voice come the end of any international – friendly or otherwise – and be full of hope. That is where the joy has returned to Scottish international sport: we have a reason to cheer, and to believe, again.

With whatever-shaped-ball in Scotland’s court as we approach 2022, which is set to be filled with appetising international competition, let’s hope that Scotland do us proud; that the lion will be rampant again; that we fight for our wee bit hill and glen; and, at the very least, we beat England wherever we may face them!

And stood against him, proud Edwards army, and sent him homeward tae think again…

COME ON SCOTLAND!!!