Two lucky fans had a special day at Hampden before the Scotland squad jetted off to the World Cup. Calum Alexander (24) and Liam Reynolds (29), participants from the charity AWARE Scotland, were part of a group of supporters who gave the men's team a rallying cry.
The pair, along with other fans, were invited to Barclays Hampden under the impression they would be writing postcards to the players and enjoying a tour of the national stadium. However, during their guided tour, they were surprised by Scotland stars Kenny McLean and Lawrence Shankland.
Kenny and Lawrence collected the messages of support from the gathered fans to share with the rest of Steve Clarke's squad. With friendly matches now behind them and focus turning to the group-stage kick-off, the support of Scotland fans is vital.
Specsavers was on hand to ensure the messages reached the squad directly before they headed to the US. Liam, from Cambuslang, directed his message to Kieran Tierney, asking the left back to 'score some more goals' and wishing him luck. Calum, from Mount Florida, urged captain Andy Robertson to get the team 'hyped up' and offered his help.
Both Liam and Calum have additional support needs and receive support from AWARE Scotland. They enjoyed their day and hope Scotland can be successful in the USA. Liam said: "It was an incredible experience, and I hope Kieran Tierney gets my postcard!" Calum added: "It was so amazing and I wasn't expecting it at all. It was great to wish good luck to the whole team and let them know all of Scotland is behind them. I think we're going to win it all and if they want a hype man, I'm there."
Lawrence Shankland, tasked with delivering the messages, appreciated the support. He said: "It was brilliant to meet Calum and Liam and to see their excitement about the tournament. We've got letters to Kieran Tierney we need to pass on now so it was good to meet them and it's those small moments that those guys will remember for a long time. There's been a long build up from qualifying and the excitement is building all over Scotland and you can really feel it."
Specsavers renewed its sponsorship deal with the Scottish FA in 2024, becoming the Official Eye and Ear Care Partner and extending one of the longest-running partnerships in sport. The agreement runs through to 2028 and includes continued support for referee training and development, as well as raising awareness of grassroots and local football across the country.
