Scotland and England party together in Cologne before Auld Enemy Serbia clash

Scotland and England fans have been partying together in Cologne ahead of the Auld Enemy’s clash against Serbia tonight.

Groups of supporters from a number of different countries have been mingling at Alter Market in the German city on Sunday afternoon.

The area has been buzzing with football fans after Switzerland beat Hungary 3-1 at the RheinEnergieSTADION in the city on Saturday afternoon.

England fans have also been gathering in the square ahead of their match against Serbia in nearby Gelsenkirchen this evening – and the Tartan Army have been piling off trains from Munich too.

Despite that the fans have all been getting along – and on Sunday afternoon supporters from both sides were captured by the Record engaging in friendly banter.

Glasgow lads Alan Thomson, John O’Neil and his brother Steven met Londoners Barney Trent, 26, Jack Blunt-Bigwood, 26, and his brother Harry, 24, in a beer garden at Alter Market.

They each sang their national team’s chants before laughing and shaking hands and posing for pictures together.

John O’Neil, 44, a mechanic for Glasgow City Council, laughed as he told the Record: “We met them on the bus in. It’s all been good craic.

“Cologne is an amazing city. We’re all just here for a good time so it’s been really good. The English boys are alright. It’s been a good laugh.

“We flew into Dortmund on Thursday and it’s been brilliant. The German fans in Dortmund have been amazing too.

“It’s just been chaos, just one big party. We’re just here for a good time – usual Scotland fans.”

Jack added: “We’re going to the Serbia game tonight. We’re England fans but the Scots are fine. It’s all banter.”

It was a dull day in Cologne with heavy rain showers at times, but the Scots were still making the most of their days off in-between games.

Some have been exploring the stunning city which sits in the shadow of the spectacular Cologne Cathedral, while others have been making the most of the many bars and restaurants.

Others have been watching the Euro 2024 group games on a big screen at the Alter Market and at the Cologne fan zone, which is located right in the heart of the city.

Kevin Murphy and his pals Scott Brown, Mark Harkin, Gary Welsh and Brian Welsh were sitting sipping steins in the main square when they were approached by the Record.

Kevin, who is 38 and an engineer from Glasgow, said: “The experience has been great so far. Everything except the result on Friday, but the beers are making it a bit easier.

“We’ve been enjoying the atmosphere every day. We watched the game on Friday from the Cologne fan zone on Friday and it was pretty crazy – chaotic, in a good way.

“We’ve been well looked after here. Everything has been very well organised. There’s a lot of places to eat and drink too and everyone has been really friendly.

“There’s been fans from several different countries here but the atmosphere has been spot on. We’ve been drinking with the English, the Swiss, the Hungarians. Everyone has just been enjoying drinking and having fun together.

“No one has been getting too caught up in the football, everyone is just here enjoying the atmosphere.”

Chris Scott, 28, a social worker from Perth, added: “Cologne has been great. I only got here yesterday but it’s been brilliant so far. Everyone has been really friendly and we’re just looking forward to Wednesday now.

“There’s lots of England fans here as well as Swiss and Hungarians but it’s been really friendly. I’ve not seen any trouble or anything like that. Everyone has been getting along, which has been brilliant.”

Kerry Townshend, a 48-year-old support worker from Tayport, said: “We’re staying in Duisburg. We travelled into Munich on Friday which was absolutely amazing.

“Now we’re here in Cologne and it is a beautiful city. Everyone is very friendly. Apart from the odd English chant of ‘Scotland get battered everywhere they go’ – when we’ve had to put them in their place – everyone has been getting along.”

Elsewhere at the other side of the square Graeme Schoneville, from Wishaw, was sat with various other family and friends at a local café after arriving in Cologne.

Graeme, who is a full-time carer for his 15-year-old son Zak, who suffers from cerebral palsy, told how their magical trip across to Germany began in Munich when they bumped into legendary Scots football manager Sir Alex Ferguson.

Graeme, 51, said: “It’s been a bit of a bizarre trip so far. We brought the wee man across in his wheelchair car so we got the ferry across to Amsterdam and went down to Munich.

“We had a day in Munich then drove back up yesterday to base ourselves in this area for the next couple of days.

“Munich was absolutely out of this world. We went into this random pub in the city centre and the wee man met Alex Ferguson.

“There was a table there and Sir Alex was one of his guests. He took his time out to get his photograph taken with Zak which we all really appreciated. It made his day.

Speaking about the second leg of their trip, Graeme added: “Cologne is a beautiful city. The German hospitality has been out of this world.

“That’s us up here now and we’re going to base ourselves here for the next few days and then we’ll see what happens.

“We’ve got a ticket for France V Austria tomorrow night through it Dusseldorf too so that should be great. It’s been an amazing trip.”

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