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WE all witnessed the sheer volume of the Tartan's Army's rendition of Flower of Scotland at the Boston Stadium at the weekend and the attention their passion in the US has received since they touched down for the country's World Cup campaign.
But for External Affairs Minister Stephen Gethins, he believes Scotland's fans can have an impact way beyond Americans simply lapping up their joyfulness.
He believes the Tartan Army are a phenomenal asset to the country and have soft power that could have a huge impact on tourism, as well as jobs and investment in Scotland.
While John Swinney has just returned from his own trip to the US , Gethins said the best ambassadors for Scotland across the Atlantic have been the fans.
"The World Cup is the biggest international stage and who could be better ambassadors for Scotland than the Tartan Army in terms of soft power, visibility, people thinking about Scotland?" said Gethins when speaking to The National podcast.
“Fundamentally we know that delivers jobs and investment at home by tourism, sales of food and drink, and that’s why the First Minister is there."
He added: "I’m sure the First Minister won’t mind me saying this but the best ambassadors Scotland have had in the US are the Tartan Army. What a fantastic advertisement for the country and the kind of country we are and how we see ourselves.”
In the Holyrood chamber on Tuesday, Swinney paid tribute to the Tartan Army for being an "absolute credit" to the country and "capturing the imagination" of Americans.
He said both the governor of Massachusetts and the Mayor of Boston had both indicated to him during his visit "their joy" over "what the fans had brought to the city".
Swinney met the pair as part of a busy weekend in the US which concluded with him spending time in Kentucky meeting bourbon business leaders, as he aims to keep up momentum in the whisky industry on the back of the removal of tariffs.
Despite the opportunities Swinney has been able to grab hold of to advance Scotland's interests, he has received negative press coverage for what some opponents have branded a "World Cup jolly".
Gethins said Swinney should be squeezing everything he can out of Scotland being in the World Cup and Scots should expect him to do so.
"The First Minister should be there," he said.
"Every leader of a country that’s got a team playing in the World Cup, they go. It’s a big event, it’s a big moment for every country and that’s why it would’ve been right for the First Minister to be there anyway.
"But he seems to have packed out his schedule with speaking to the bourbon industry in Kentucky [for example]. '[That's] really important and keeps people in work back home in Scotland if you’re in a small village that relies on a whisky distillery selling food and drink. Also, in my own area, the energy sector and the jobs that are around there, the higher education sector I used to work in."
He went on: "There’s a huge benefit to John Swinney being there. The first thing I’d say to those who are criticising the First Minister is that Scotland have qualified for their first World Cup in 28 years – have a day off criticising the Scottish Government.
“The other thing is, can you imagine the criticism [if he didn’t go] given the economic opportunity, the chance to present Scotland on the world stage? If he hadn’t made the case for the whisky industry, hadn’t made the case for investment in our energy sector, hadn’t put us on the map in terms of the opportunities that exist in Scotland in the higher education sector? And most of all building that brand and that soft power that helps deliver jobs at home. That’s a massive opportunity and one that you don’t get very often and you need to squeeze every last bit you can get out of that."
Gethins, who has just become an MSP having had two stints at Westminster, also said he had witnessed the dangers of a country like the UK becoming increasingly insular.
He insisted if leaders don't make the most of opportunities to connect with other nations, it can have a long-term negative effect on a country's image, economy and international standing.
"In recent years in British politics I’ve seen this creeping insularity and inward-looking approach and exceptionalism that I don’t think is healthy in a world where we need interconnectedness and need to work together," he said.
"It makes your country a less attractive place to visit, to work, to invest in and that has a real terms impact on the population you represent."
Gethins said he had also enjoyed seeing kids out in their Scotland shirts getting behind the team and learning about other nations such as Haiti which they might not otherwise have had the opportunity to do.
Bostonians will certainly have one or two thank yous for the Scots, as a new law that allows more than 140 bars and restaurants in Boston to stay open later and for fans to carry and drink alcohol along certain streets has been hailed as the “Tartan Army Bill”.
Last week, the Boston Licensing Board approved 144 establishments to stay open one hour later during the World Cup and other summer events until July 31.
The Tartan Army are having an impact beyond words and here's hoping we can all enjoy the benefits of their contagious enthusiasm for years to come.
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