Thomas 'Tam' Murty, a 62-year-old Scotland fan from Glasgow, died after collapsing outside The Dubliner Irish Pub in Boston on Thursday, June 18. He passed away the following morning, June 19. The devoted supporter had traveled to the United States to watch Scotland compete in the World Cup for the first time in nearly 30 years.
Family tribute and fundraising
Tam's family described him as "Tartan Army to the core" and said he was "exactly where he wanted to be." His son, Gavin Murty, launched a GoFundMe campaign to repatriate his father's body and arrange a funeral. In the appeal, Gavin wrote: "Thomas Murty had his heart set on seeing Scotland reach a World Cup again. This summer, he finally got his moment. He packed his bags, pulled on the navy blue, and flew to Boston to join the Tartan Army."
Gavin added: "To finally see his country at a World Cup, after almost three decades of waiting, was the dream of a lifetime. He got to live that dream. Surrounded by his fellow fans, in full voice, with the saltire flying — Tam was exactly where he wanted to be." The fundraiser aims to cover the costs of bringing Tam home from the United States and giving him a "deserving" funeral.
Social media condolences
Friends and strangers expressed their condolences on social media. One user wrote: "So sorry for your loss. Take care of yourself and your family." An American commented: "I'm so sorry this happened. I'm happy he came and was able to see our city and spend time with the Tartan Army to celebrate." Another said: "That's so upsetting that he has passed away. I'm so glad he got to see them play and live his dream." A fourth added: "The Tartan Army is one of a kind, as I'm sure Thomas was."
Scotland's World Cup return
Thousands of Scotland fans traveled to the US for the tournament, marking the country's first World Cup appearance since 1998. Tam's death has saddened the Scottish football community, with many remembering his passion and dedication to the national team.
