Tartan Army has 'brought new life' to America's smallest state

Rhode Island is not hosting any World Cup matches, but thousands of Scotland fans have descended on America's smallest state over the last week.

Around 5,000 members of the Tartan Army are staying in the state capital of Providence during the tournament.

The city is 25 miles away from the Boston Stadium in Foxborough, Massachusetts, where Scotland will play their second match against Morocco on Friday.

Not only have they created a Tartan Army community in the area, they have also raised thousands of pounds that will be donated to local charities.

Robert Copland from Hamilton, South Lanarkshire, said money was the main reason he chose to stay in Providence.

"The price was a lot less in Rhode Island and even the beers are a lot cheaper," he said.

"The community has welcomed us with open arms - the other night a local man stuck my drinks on his tab and we got chatting. We're now going to keep in contact and I've told him to come to Scotland.

“We weren’t sure what to expect staying here, but it feels like a community."

That community feel is in part down to the hard work of the Providence Tartan Army, a social media group set up in response to the number of football fans looking to find cheaper accommodation.

Two of those behind the group are David Hood from Balloch and Mike MacGregor, originally from Dundee but now living in Rhode Island.

David told BBC Scotland News he started looking at hotels in Boston after the draw and found it was going to be "extortionate".

He said: "We saw people on social media saying about staying in Providence, but there was only a dozen or so people on the page. I thought it was going to be dead here.

"We knew the tickets were going to be expensive and that it was going to be an expensive World Cup, but we're just normal working class folk so needed to save money where we could."

Providence Tartan Army started as a Facebook page to ensure there was a buzz for fans to enjoy in the city, but it soon grew arms and legs.

It was Mike's idea to charter two dozen yellow school buses to ferry fans from Providence to the stadium on game day and the group managed to fill 300 hotel rooms.

They made a deal with Irn-Bru maker AG Barr to have a pallet of the juice shipped over, as well as organising boat parties, block parties and a huge gathering of fans on Thursday.

Through sales of tickets for the yellow buses, Providence Tartan Army merchandise sales and the generosity of fans staying in the area, they have raised around $23,500 (£17,670) for charity. Fans were still donating on Tuesday.

The money will be split between the Hasbro Children's hospital in Providence, SAMH (Scottish Action for Mental Health) and the remainder will got to the Rhode Island Highlanders to allow them to set up bagpipe tuition in local schools.

"That's our legacy," David said.

It's not just charities that have benefitted in the local area.

The Providence Tartan Army has chosen G Bar as their hub and the manager said sales over the past few days was "three times as big as any Super Bowl".

The final of the US's National Football League is often the busiest night for pubs around the country.

John Ioven told BBC Scotland News: "On Saturday alone we saw around 2,000-3,000 people and on Monday we did another 200-300. You guys got stamina.

"They've brought life back to New England. Tourism has been hot and cold here over the past few years, so it feels like you've brought us back to life."

"We're Scottish for five weeks, so of course we're cheering you all on. We are officially endorsing Team Scotland."

Around the corner is the Moonshine Alley.

The name doesn't sound like a traditional Scottish pub - in fact it's a Nashville-inspired country bar - but the saltires hanging outside would make you think twice.

"We were worried Boston was going to be a little bit selfish and keep all the fans so we are glad the Tartan Army has spread itself about," said marketing manager Elizabeth Beskid.

She said the 300-person venue has been packed every night and there has been lots of "good energy".

"Normally at this time of year, the students have all left to go home for the summer so it's definitely helping us to have the Tartan Army here," she added.

Even the city's police department have "fallen in love with everyone from Scotland" according to one officer.

It has been estimated the World Cup has contributed to a $35m to the local economy.

Scotland play their second group match of the tournament on Friday when they face Morocco.

Once again 21 school buses will leave from Providence to take fans to the game.

“I think I’ll be able to relax once that last bus has left on Friday,“ Davie said.

“But I’ll need to find a hobby to keep me occupied.”

Mike added: "Helping to plan all of this has helped me settle into my new home of Rhode Island. I'll be thinking about these days in my retirement home years down the line."

Asked why they went to all this effort, Mike said: "We're the Tartan Army, it's what we do."