Still basking in the glow of Scotland’s first World Cup victory since 1990 over Haiti at Gillette Stadium on Saturday night, the celebration continued Sunday in Boston.
More than 5,000 Scottish supporters, known as the Tartan Army, marched the half-mile from Evans Way Park to Fenway Park for a sold-out Scottish Heritage Night, waving Scottish flags, playing bagpipes, and belting out chants along the way.
The procession, escorted by Boston police, spilled through the Fenway neighborhood as supporters made their way toward America’s Most Beloved Ballpark.
Upon arriving, they moved down Ipswich Street before turning onto Lansdowne Street, where they gathered, chanted, kicked soccer balls around, and soaked in the atmosphere before eventually dispersing into the bars and the ballpark.
Inside Fenway, the energy carried through the night.
The sound of bagpipes drifted into the ballpark throughout the evening, while chants and singing broke out regularly from the crowd. None was heard more often than the Tartan Army’s “No Scotland, no party” chant.
One song Scottish supporters weren’t eager to sing, however, was Neil Diamond’s “Sweet Caroline.” The Fenway staple, played at every Red Sox home game since 2002, drew a mix of cheers and boos because of its association as an unofficial anthem of England’s national soccer team.
Although the Red Sox fell 6-4, dropping to 12-22 at home this season, the atmosphere was unlike anything Fenway Park has experienced in quite some time.
“It was crazy,” Interim Manager Chad Tracy said. “It felt like a soccer game all night with the chanting and all that. It was pretty loud.”
The celebration may not be over just yet.
Scotland won’t play again until Friday, when it faces Morocco at Gillette Stadium, giving the Tartan Army several more days to keep the party going.
