TACC Macedonia Donation
On the morning of Sat the 10th Sept whilst in Skopje, Macedonia to cheer on George Burley's Scotland side in the World Cup qualifier Alan Henderson, Diane Buchan, Gordon MacDonald, Karen Hay & Bruce Stephen from the Broch’s Crack of Dawn Tartan Army met up with around a dozen other tartan army foot soldiers to make their way to “Topaansko Pole” which is a centre and home for severely disabled children. The group were taking part in an opening ceremony for a recently renovated toilet and shower block. The Tartan Army Children’s Charity (TACC) a few months ago made an £8000 (£1000 of which was raised at Alan Henderson’s and Susan Donn’s joint 40th Birthday Party) donation to the centre which paid for the renovation and upgrade to one of their toilet blocks and also 45 new wooden beds and mattresses. The centre was selected along with "Snezana” a day care centre for street children which received £4000 after a consultation process with the British embassy and up to 120 children will benefit from the “Topaansko Pole” renovation project alone.
When the group arrived at Topaansko Pole, Bruce Stephen from Rosehearty along with another Piper Colin entertained the children and staff with some traditional Scottish tunes on the bagpipes. Some of the children dressed in national costumes then demonstrated their dancing skills with some traditional Macedonian national song and dance. A few dances and songs later the group were led through the grounds towards one of the housing blocks. Once inside we were shown round a few of the newly painted dormitories and shown the new beds and mattresses that the donation helped pay for. The children were then treated to some goody bags full of sweets and bottles of Irn Bru courtesy of the Dundee Tartan Army. The high sugar content of the Irn Bru didn’t take long to kick in and soon most of the kids were coming out of their shells and being more receptive to their strange looking visitors. While most of the kids were being occupied with there new found friends a few of the guys crept back into the dormitories and left colouring books, crayons and pencil sets on top of the beds. The group then set about various speeches from the British Ambassador and the head of the centre with the help of an interpreter. One of the Tartan Army Eric then gave the locals an impromptu rendition of the adoptive Macedonian National anthem “Makedonija naviva za vas” which took him a few months to master, the verdict rapturous applause and loads of cheers. The centre laid on some party food and soft drinks for the children and guests. Sadly after a few more tunes on the bagpipes and another round of photos it was time to leave.
The Tartan Army Children’s Charity has now officially been adopted by the Scottish Football Association as one of their nominated charities for the coming season - and they immediately donated £2,500 to their South African Orphans appeal. The TACC were founded by members of the Tartan Army so that they could support projects in countries that they were visiting to watch Scotland play. Since their formation in 2006 (as Tartan Kiev) the TACC have supported, amongst others, an orphanage in Kiev (Donation of £15000), an infant hospital in Tbilisi (£10000) and Macedonia (£15000). They also work with the Aberlour Trust here in Scotland to support disadvantaged Scottish children. A Scottish FA spokesman said: "The Tartan Army Children’s Charity have been wonderful ambassadors for Scotland across the world. The work that they have done in Ukraine, Georgia and now Macedonia has made a huge impact to the lives of disadvantaged children in those countries. We are all delighted that the TACC are now one of our supported charities. George and the boys will be doing everything they can to get us to South Africa in 2010. The TACC campaign to help out children whose lives have been devastated by AIDS in that country is one that will mean that Scotland can leave a legacy in South Africa before, during and after the tournament. It is a campaign that I hope everyone gets behind."
The latest TACC campaign aims to raise £50,000 to support children left orphaned by AIDS in South Africa. The Scotland team and all the staff at the Scottish FA will be working with the TACC to help them reach their target by the end of the qualifying campaign.
A TACC spokesman said: "We are absolutely thrilled that the Scottish FA have adopted the charity and will be supporting our South African campaign. As Scotland fans we get to travel the world following our team. Having this charity in place has allowed us to come together to help out some of the more disadvantaged children in many of the countries that we visit." "We all want to be in South Africa in 2010 for the World Cup. Whether we make it or not, we are determined to make sure that Scotland and the Scotland fans are there in some way. That is why we have launched this campaign. That is why we want your support." More details on the TACC can be found via their website www.tartanarmychildrenscharity.org.uk
The Rampant Lions
We went to France with a Rampant lions heart.
Our sole intent to rip the French apart.
Fans flocked in their thousands from all parts of Scotland.
Drinking beer, making friends and dancing jigs to the pipe band!
The game getting closer, the nation pondered.
Could we beat them again everyone wondered.
The French making excuses was funny to see.
They were concerned about the pitch after a game of rugby.
The game has now started, what will we do?
I'm needing a drink or maybe a few.
For 45 minutes our defence was a rock.
Could we actually produce another big shock.
On 63 minutes the game took a turn.
No-one picked up the boy from Springburn.
With a twist and a touch the French fans were left awestricken.
With a 30 yard belter from the boots of McFadden.
Hold on boys! Hold on! 90 minutes have past.
Come on referee! Give that whistle a blast.
We've done it again and it's in their backyard.
They just couldn't get past our defensive rearguard.
Every player a credit to our small nation.
It's a magical result an utter sensation.
He could have played Boyd but you got the nod.
James McFadden you are a true Scottish God!!!!!
Alternative Braveheart
Sons (and daughters) of Scotland, I am James McFadden.
"James McFadden is seven feet tall."
Yes, I've heard. Scores goals by the hundreds,
and if he were here he'd consume the French team
with fireballs from his eyes and bolts of lightning from his arse.
I AM James McFadden!
And I see a whole Tartan army of my countrymen here in defiance of the odds.
You have come to support as free men, and free men you are.
What would you do with that freedom? Will you support us?
"Support you? Against France? No, we will run; and hope for a draw."
Aye, support us and we may lose.
Hope for a draw and we'll survive -- at least a while.
And dying in your beds many years from now,
would you be willing to trade all the days from this day to that
for one chance, just one chance to come back here and tell the French team
that they may be second best in the world,
but they'll never be able to take... their two defeats back from us!
Alba gu brath!
Scotland v Italy
On 17th of November 2007,
At Hampden Park The chosen 11.
Hampden loaded to the hilt
Scotland tops and tartan kilts
Each of them to a man
A coming together of the Scotland fans
Kick off, the game under way
Each of us wondering
About this day
The Scottish support as always… loud
It took 70 seconds to silence the crowd
Scotland-0 Italy-1
Wiz this it wiz Scotland done
Then we got back into the swing
The tartan army began to sing
Pick up the pace don't let them rest
Don't give in, do yir best
A few close calls
And some dodgy balls
And the Italians
With there dramatic falls
Then the captain, with his wee prod
Thank you Barry Our new god
Jumping around in ecstasy
It means so much not just to me
All of Scotland jumping for joy
Including girls not just the boys
Ex- pats all over the place
Couldn't wipe the smile off there face
Nor the tears from there eyes
Growing men began to cry
Holding our own with
The World Cup holders
Pizza munchers
And olive growers
A superb performance
From oor team
A 1-1 draw wiz fair it seemed
Then there wiz time added on
Then came the challenge on Hutton
That wiz surely a free kick
No tae them tae us ya P***k
Shockin decision by the referee
Am sure the rest of the world would agree
But that wiz it
Our dreams were shattered
We can say what we want it doesn't matter
The ref's decided he's chose our fate
Scotland's oot of euro 2008
But Hold your heads up
You all done well
On this decision let's not dwell
Stand up tall and be proud
Of the players and the tartan army crowd
