The normally fun-loving Scottish fans Walter and Pat are sad. A few hours after the 1:5 against Germany, their buddy Colin King was found dead in bed. Today against Switzerland, the Scots want to honor the deceased fan legend.
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- At the opening game against Germany, Scotland fans Walter and Pat were still in the stadium with their friend Colin King. A few hours later, he was dead.
- Like Pat and Walter, Colin King was a Scottish fan legend. Respected and loved in the stands. "We are incredibly sad. Colin was such a sociable guy," Pat tells blue Sport.
- Tonight in the match against Switzerland, the Scottish fans want to pay tribute and applaud their deceased colleague for one minute in the 4th minute. "Colin deserves this big stage," say Walter and Pat.
Walter (65) from Glasgow and Pat (73) from Edinburgh love beer and football. Lots of beer and lots of football. They have been following the Scottish national team around the football world since 1970. Together with their friends from the "Tartan Army" fan club, they have cheered and suffered with the Scottish national team in 54 countries.
Switzerland against Scotland? Nothing new for the two Scots. They have been in the stadium for all nine meetings since 1982. "The highlight was the 2:2 in qualifying for the 1992 European Championship in the Wankdorf. We then qualified for the Euros," says Walter and laughs. The national team with Hermann, Chapuisat & Co. then missed out on qualifying.
"He was still in the stadium with us"
Walter and Pat are two sociable types. They like to laugh. They lost it the morning after the game against Germany. It's not the 5-1 defeat that's on their minds, the frustration has long since been washed away. They have just learned that their good friend Colin King died the night after the opening game.
"He was still in the stadium with us, but in the morning Colin just didn't wake up. He was just lying dead in bed," says Walter. Pat says: "We are incredibly sad. Colin was such a sociable guy."
Like Pat and Walter, Colin King was a Scottish fan legend. Respected and loved in the fans' corner. That's why his two pals hope he gets a fond farewell. "We think the Scottish fans will organize something in his honour at the game against Switzerland," says Pat.
Walter says: "Colin's family have already launched an appeal on Facebook. The fans want to applaud him for a minute in the fourth minute of the game. That would be a nice gesture." The two agree: "Colin deserves this big stage!"
At first Walter and Pat want to clap and mourn - but after 90 minutes they want to celebrate again. "We will win," they are sure.
