It's Class Being Scottish

Steven Thompson on wearing the shirt 16 times. Tom Kitchin on what makes Scotland honest. Jack Lowden on what a Scot keeps under his kilt. Hear from them and others - read more about their stories in our full Q&A below.

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Steven Thompson

Scotland National Team
2002 - 2004

What would it mean to see Scotland win a game at this World Cup?

"Well I fully expect us to win a game. The first on against Haiti is definitely winnable and as much as the other 2 games are difficult I believe we can win at least one of them."

Tell us about your favourite place in Scotland and why you love to spend time there.

"My favourite place in Scotland is the Isle of Arran. I have been about 40 of my 47 years on the planet for holidays. Specifically Shiskine and Blackwaterfoot. I got married in shiskine in 2005 to my wife Joanne and it was such an amazing weekend. I’m also a member of the shiskine golf club which is phenomenal. My Grampa has a bench on the 10th hole which was his favourite. He also spent so much time there when he was alive."

Do you have a memory of Scotland in the World Cup in France 98', how did you celebrate?

"My memory of the 98 World Cup is being in the pub in our local village with face paint and a Scotland strip on. The atmosphere was amazing and the roof was dripping with pints when we scored against Brazil unfortunately we didn't go on to win the game but it was still awesome."

Having worn the shirt yourself, what does it mean to see Scotland back at a World Cup - and what are you hoping for this summer?

"Playing for Scotland was one of the proudest moments of my life and I managed to do it 16 times. It’s such an honour and privilege to pull on the shirt and something I still pinch myself about.
Seeing Scotland back on the biggest stage is brilliant and everyone is buzzing for it as we don’t know when the next time will be."

Tom Kitchin

Chef - The Kitchin

What does being Scottish mean to you?

"It’s just a real sense of pride to be honest. It’s where I grew up, it’s where I returned to set up the business and where I raised my family. Scotland is about the people and it’s got something very honest about it. I’m incredibly proud to be Scottish."

Is there a pub in Scotland that gets the match day food and drink experience right?

"Yeah, loads of them do it well in Edinburgh. You don’t need anything fancy, just a proper pub, good atmosphere, decent pint and ideally some good and simple food. When there’s a bit of noise about the place, that’s when it’s at its best. I love places around Broughton or Stockbridge, like The Bailie by St Stephen street."

Scottish food has had a real moment globally in recent years — do you think football and food are both part of the same story of Scotland finding its confidence on the world stage?

"Yeah, I think so. There’s definitely more confidence now. People are proud of Scottish food again, and rightly so. It feels like we’re backing ourselves a bit more, whether that’s in the kitchen or on the pitch. Surely that could only be a good thing."

Jack Lowden

Scottish Actor

What team do you support and who got you into them/football?

"Broxburn Athletic, semi pro/junior football team. My dad got me into that tier of football, and it’s been the only football I’ve ever really been interested in (outside of internationals). I’ve been all over Scotland watching junior football. My dad was born & raised in Broxburn, and was a talented footballer, he played for Rangers on a school boy form."

What makes Scottish football fans the best in the world?

"Joy. That sheer amount of pain means that when things do go right…no other footballing nation on earth can feel that much joy. I subconsciously ripped all my clothes off & broke down in my living room when Tierney’s goal went in."

What is it about Scotland that makes people internationally fall in love with it?

"I think people THINK they know what scotland is. Burns, ceilidhs, football, kilts etc. But there’s also a mystery to us. Our country’s international image is also one of mist and hills and folklore etc. And the thing with mist is…ye never know what’s on the other side of it. And that’s alluring, the not knowing. I think we’re a country that doesn’t give itself away to quickly. And that’s sexy. Take the old question ‘what does a Scot keep under his kilt?’ And our answer is ‘find out for yerselves’. To me that’s Scotland in a nutshell."

Gregg Boyd

Owner - Auld Hag

How do Scots celebrate differently to everyone else?

"Scottish people don’t mess around when it comes to celebrating - we know our way around a party. I’d go as far to say we’re professionals. We’re known around the world for our whisky and with the increasing number of major football tournaments we’re making these years, we’re matching that with our ability to take over a city, bring more than our fair share of fans and make the locals beg us to stay."

Where will you be watching the first match on 13th June?

"I’ll be over in Boston watching the opening match. Auld Hag are part of a warm-up event on 11 June in New York and we’ll be heading up to Boston the day after to join in on the carnage. Unfortunately, I’ll be missing our own event in London - where we’re hosting a fanzone for all Scotland fans in the big smoke - but I’ll be back for the two later group games."

What would the perfect Scotland World Cup match day spread look like?

In terms of a match day spread, I’d personally be making a canapé selection of all the best bits of a Scottish bakery - bridies, wee macaroni pies, steak & haggis pies and square sausage rolls. You’d also need to get the morning rolls ready for 6am given everyone will still be up celebrating at that time in the UK.

Grant Agnew

Owner - Orzel Store

How has growing up in Scotland shaped who you are?

"There are many attributes that are instilled in us all, we are hard workers, innovators and inventors, we look out for each other and we like a party. These are things that I try to include in both my home and work life wherever possible . Community is a massive part of what we do and something we prioritise at Orzel - working closely with our brands, local businesses and our customers to try to ensure we are doing the right thing and having a bit of fun whilst doing it."

What does quality mean to you and how does Scottish craft represent that?

"Quality means something that is timeless and will get better with age. I think we have some amazing makers in Scotland, and it something that we have been trying to support. Kestin does a great job with it."

Did a parent or grandparent pass down a love of Scottish football to you?

"My dad Derek passed on his love of Scottish football to me, like his dad did for him. He is a massive sport fan and loved going to Scotland football and rugby games when he was younger. I wasn’t allowed a club shirt until I was old enough to choose myself, and so my first kit was the 1990 World Cup Shirt! One of my favourite memories of Scottish football is that the World Cup game v Brazil in 1998 was on my 16th birthday, so I had a party at the house where all of my friends and family came round to watch the game together – we were very excited when John Collins scored that penalty and promised each other we would all go the next world cup together…. didn’t expect it to take quite so long!!!"

Nel Roy

Owner - Postal

Streetwear has always been about identity and where you're from - what does it mean to you to be building a Scottish brand right now, at a moment when Scotland is back on the world stage?

"Working in the creative area of Scottish fashion, especially alongside Scotland’s long-awaited return to the World Cup after 28 years, is a huge privilege. It has been amazing to watch Scottish creatives, brands, and artists collaborate with such a wide variety of talent, from local, independent artists right up to global powerhouses, all driven by a shared love for the country. This collective energy is inspiring and effectively brings attention to talent that might otherwise be missed."

Football kits are some of the most iconic pieces of clothing ever made. What's your favourite Scotland strip of all time and what makes it stand out to you?

"It has to be the 1997 home shirt. That vintage look is iconic and the yellow away top comes close second."

Streetwear and football culture have always been intertwined - from terraces to lookbooks. How does that connection show up in what you do at Postal?

"We’ve actually just collaborated with Umbro on home and away Scotland strips for the world cup. Although Postal is widely considered as an alternative streetwear brand, we’ve always had a soft spot for sportswear and we will always offer an element of that in our collections."

If Scotland winning a game at this World Cup inspired a drop - what would it look like?

"Most definitely kilts and tartan bonnets with fake ginger hair poking out the side."