Scotland superfan 'treated like a celebrity' after seeing every major tournament since 1974

Robbie Jenkins claims to be Scotland's most dedicated-ever football fan.

After seeing every major tournament since the 70s, Robbie is preparing for Germany this summer.

It will mark the 69-year-old's 10th major tournament involving Scotland. His tickets and flights are already booked to follow Steve Clarke’s Bravehearts to Germany.

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He has spent the last 50 years following the team and the Tartan Army across the world and hopes to see Scotland qualify for the next round.

The retired trade union official told the Sunday Mail: “It has been a fantastic adventure over the years and hopefully the biggest one is yet to come.

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“I have met some wonderful people and experienced different cultures and lifestyles.

“Following Scotland has been a great way of seeing the world and watching football at the same time.

“I have never seen Scotland qualify for the second phase of a tournament but believe this year could be different.

“If that did happen it would be a great way of marking more than 50 years of going to Scotland games.”

Robbie has forked out a lot of money in the process but hasn't missed a single game or competition for which Scotland has qualified.

The dad of two, has visited 65 countries and attended hundreds of matches as a Tartan Army foot soldier.

In 1974 he attended his first World Cup as a wide-eyed 19-year-old. In June he will revisit Germany for our three games as a 69-year-old grandpa, with partner Siobhan, daughter Lucy and baby grandson Oscar.

His longest trek was to Argentina in 1978 via Newcastle, Amsterdam, West Africa, Rio de Janeiro, Buenos Airies and then the Scotland team’s base in Cordoba.

The shortest was a 45-minute tube journey from his home in Enfield, London, to Wembley in 1996 and 2021 for games against England.

Although he insists he only went there for “his own safety," Robbie also found himself on the Wembley pitch after the famous fans’ invasion of 1977.

When Robbie was in Argentina he and the other 600 Scots who had travelled became minor celebrities and treated like pop stars.

Stories about the fans’ exploits in making to the World Cup – including hiring a submarine – had reached Cordoba.

Robbie added: “We found ourselves in the same hotel as the England boss Ron Greenwood and Manchester United manager Dave Sexton.

“One day a crowd of about 100 kids ran towards us looking for our autographs, completely ignoring the two managers not realising who they were.

“I was also asked to speak to English students at the local university about Scotland and what it was like to live there.

“The hospitality shown to us was fantastic in Cordoba and complete strangers would often invite us into their homes for a drink.”

Mexico City, which he and Siobhan had reached via New York and LA, was another story. Shortly before they arrived there had been an earthquake and another was expected.

One day fans and other tourists were ordered off the street due to a political demonstration.

Robbie added: “The following day we could see people out on the street cleaning blood off the pavement.

“However that didn’t spoil our enjoyment of the trip and the Mexicans were very welcoming.”

Robbie’s first international was at the age of 15 when he travelled 190 miles by bus from his home in Elgin, Moray, to Glasgow to watch Scotland draw 0-0 with England.

He has seldom missed a game since, often hitchhiking in the early days from Elgin for games home and abroad.

In 1974 he bussed it to Germany and hitchhiked to the Zaire, Brazil and Yugoslavia games in Dortmund and Frankfurt, sleeping in a camper van.

His greatest high and low was 1978 when Scotland crashed out after losing to Peru, drawing with Iran and beating Holland in the final game.

Robbie was one of the group of fans who famously booed the team off the park after the draw against Iran.

Scotland had gone into the tournament as one of the favourites and there had been a fans’ send-off at Hampden.

Robbie remembers his time as a young fan with the greatest affection. He said: “After I left school I never missed a game and would hitchhike to and from games if there were no supporters buses available.

“Hitching was a lot more socially acceptable and once I got a ride from Scotland boss Willie Ormond from Glasgow to Perth after an Old Firm derby. Kenny Dalglish also gave me tickets for a game after I met him in the team hotel.”

As an original member of the Tartan Army. Robbie campaigned for loyal fans to be given priority for match tickets, which led to the SFA setting up the Scotland Supporters Club.

His favourite current Scotland stars are Billy Gilmour and John McGinn and from yesteryear John Greig and Jim Baxter.

His top tournament games are the 0-0 draw with holders Brazil in 1974, beating Holland 3-2 in Argentina and Sweden 2-1 in Italy.

Apart from the defeat by Peru and draw with Iran in 1978 his biggest other disappointment was losing 2-0 to England in 1996 at Wembley.

Robbie said: “Losing to England is bad at any time.

“That is one thing that hasn’t changed over the past 50 years.”

Author, football historian and fellow Scotland fan Ronnie McDevitt, 62, paid tribute to Robbie’s dedication and confirmed he is the only fan to have attended all Scotland’s previous nine tournaments.

He said: “You have to remember only 600 fans made it to Argentina 1978 compared to the thousands who would travel now.

“Following Scotland has been a great passion for Robbie and he is probably the most dedicated fan the country has ever seen.”