Fans head to the Euros in private jets, motorbikes, and fold-up cycles

• Mitch Jones, 30, is cycling a staggering 1,200 for the international tournament
• Russ Cook plans to follow Gareth Southgate’s squad entirely on foot
• Publican Don Lawson has even chartered a jet for local fans in Inverness

For Europe’s top football stars and their managers the road to the Euros has been a long and winding one as they battle through an arduous series of qualification matches spread across the continent.

And now supporters of England and Scotland face their very own arduous trek to see their heroes in action in Germany this summer. 

They have taken to private jets, trains, ferries, coaches, fold-up bikes and even their own two feet to get to the tournament before it kicks off tomorrow.

While many may be boarding a two hour flight from various airports around the UK to head to Munich, others in the kilted-clad Tartan Army and some proud Englishmen are making unique journeys ahead of June 14.

From private jets, motorbikes – and even the Hardest Geezer, Russ Cook, running all the way – fans are making the most of the international sporting tournament.

One proud Three Lions fan, who previously cycled all the way to Russia for the World Cup in 2018, has even decided to take on another arduous journey in the name of charity – and football.

Mitch Jones, 30, has ventured on two wheels across continents to support Southgate’s squad and raise money for the Bobby Moore fund – and this year is no different.

Kicking off his journey on Friday, the apprentice electrician from Hampshire, is set to cycle a staggering 1,200 miles on a tiny fold-up bike.

Opting for a more scenic route, Mitch will begin his journey in Victoria Coach Station, London before he makes his way to the city of Cologne.

He told the Daily Star: ‘I’ll be spending the Euros following England on my fold-up bike. I have tickets for all our group games and the final if we get there. 

‘The rest of the knock outs I have to rely on the fate of the ballot, but even if I’m unsuccessful I’ll still go to the city to try my luck.

He added: ‘Between matches I’ll be camping in the wild. Forests, farmers fields, besides lakes and rivers or in town centres depending where takes my fancy on the day.’

However, Mitch isn’t the only England supporter heading to the continent using his sheer athletic ability – Britain’s ‘Hardest Geezer’ is also taking up the challenge.

Even though Russ Cook only completed his mammoth run across Africa two months ago, the extreme runner has literally hit the ground running once again.

On Tuesday afternoon, the 27-year-old set off on his travels from Wembley Stadium, quipping that he was ‘buzzing to be back on the road again’.

Once he arrives in Gelsenkirchen for England’s first game against Serbia on Sunday, Cook will follow the Euro squad wherever they go – always on foot. 

He is set to travel from Frankfurt to Cologne in the initial group stages and racking up well over the 352 miles from his first journey as he follows Gareth Southgate’s squad.

Cook, who completed a 10,000-mile journey from Cape Town to Tunisia in April, said: ‘I am buzzing to be back on the road again.

‘It’s going to be a race against the clock, but I’m determined to support Gareth and the boys.

‘If people spot me along the way please feel free to give me a wave or even run alongside me for a while.’

But not everyone is keen to go the long route – with some revellers are taking the more glamorous option of chattering a plane themselves.

One publican from Inverness has partnered with a local travel firm – SJ Travel – to bring Scottish fans private jet offers, as well as hotel and ticket deals.

Don Lawson, owner of Johnny Foxes & The Den, has even doubled the beer order for the Scots flying on his chartered plane to Germany, the Ross-shire Journal reports.

Two Scottish fans have also taken to the skies in their very own plane to see their beloved Scottish side play.

David Smith nervously confessed on Twitter that his friend Fraser would be at the helm of the small plane transporting them to Germany.

He penned: ‘We’re on our way with Fraser at the wheel. Furthest he’s flown is Southampton……what could go wrong?! 

‘Ayrforce one on its way to see @ScotlandNT.’

All the way south in Surrey, one Three Lions fan is following Southgate’s  squad over the span of three weeks in a £650 Vectra car.

Armed with a slew of England shirts as well as packets upon packets of snacks alongside his friend – Robert Thompson headed to Dover on Sunday.

Briefly stopping off in Antwerp, Belgium, the duo made the eye-watering nine hour trip to Munich on Tuesday.

In his latest update, the businessman revealed they car had amassed 1200 miles on the clock already – before the tournament has begun.

Another England fan is travelling almost six hours by car through Austria, Slovenia and Croatia to make it to Germany.

However one daring Scot – who goes by the alias of The Braveheart Biker, has decided to travel by motorbike whilst livestreaming his goliath road trip to the Euros in Munich.

Showcasing his mammoth 19-hour journey, the biker has been on the road since Monday making pitstops from Glasgow, Dover, Calais and Dunkirk.

One group of keen Shetlanders were travelling by boat and train to make it to the tournament as their friend doesn’t fly.

Chatting with Radio Tay News, Lyall Gair said: ‘We travel by ferry or train just anywhere to get there – so every game is any away game for us Shetlanders.

‘The boat was pretty good there wasn’t much movement – but plenty of movement in the bar area.

‘On we go to Germany. It is worth it – we are going to enjoy ourselves and have a good holiday and travel through some major cities.’

But they weren’t the only members of the Tartan Army to set sail for the continent, with one group of football fans heading down in droves of campervans.

Martin Riddell, chairman of the Association of the Tartan Army Clubs revealed there was a ‘fair old convoy’ of vehicles descending on the European country.

Sharing that he, his son Adam as well as his two pals, were making the journey together he told Scotland Tonight: 

‘It’s been years since we’ve managed to travel abroad in large numbers to a tournament and it’s just been incredibly busy for the last few months.

‘I’ve been over to Germany. I went over in December for the draw. I was over in January for a UEFA fans forum. 

‘I did site visits in March to the three host cities that are going to be in the group stage.

‘I know what is waiting for Scotland and believe me, it’s going to be brilliant!’