Scotland superfan Neil McKnight flew 4,000 miles to the United States to watch his team lose 3-0 to Brazil on a television screen, insisting the trip was worth every penny. The 62-year-old Ayr United fanatic spent over £1,000 on a 70-hour journey to Miami after failing to secure a ticket for the match.
Fan's dedication to the Tartan Army
McKnight, originally from Ayr but now living in Sawbridgeworth, Hertfordshire, said the experience of being part of the Tartan Army at a World Cup was unforgettable. Speaking to the Mirror, he said: 'I’ve had a fantastic time. It’s really been worth every penny. We may have lost 3-0 but it’s been a great experience. Both sets of fans were amazing and to be part of the Tartan Army for a World Cup was brilliant. It didn’t really matter that I didn’t get a ticket for the game. The atmosphere in the Fanfest, the bars and throughout the city was something I will always remember.'
Logistics of the trip
To keep costs down, McKnight stayed in an Airbnb in the Miami suburb of Little Havana and flew back to London via Charlotte, North Carolina, rather than taking a direct flight. He saw his first Scotland match in 1982 and his first Ayr United game against Morton in 1969, but this was his first time travelling overseas to watch Scotland play.
Before the match, McKnight told the Mirror: 'I’ve had a dream of watching Scotland in the World Cup ever since the Argentina tournament back in 1978. But tickets are so expensive and difficult to get so I decided to take the plunge and just head over.' His wife Alison supported the trip, saying she thought it was great he was going.
Reaction from friends
His close friend Andy Clayden, an England and QPR fan, joked: 'It was a long way to go and a lot of money to watch Scotland lose 3-0.' Despite the result, McKnight said he will return to his local pub, The Bull, to watch the rest of the World Cup, though he admitted 'it won’t quite be the same.'
