There are many ways to announce Scotland have arrived.
Some fans sing. Some wave flags. Some turn up in full tartan, make friends with everyone within a five mile radius and somehow leave a pub sounding like Hampden.
And then there is the Glasgow way.
Photos shared on Facebook appear to show traffic cones placed on the heads of statues in the USA, with Scotland fans allegedly bringing one of Glasgow’s most famous traditions across the Atlantic.
For anyone unfamiliar with the reference, Glasgow’s Duke of Wellington statue outside the Gallery of Modern Art has worn a traffic cone on its head so many times that it has become part of the city’s personality. Officially, it is not meant to be there. Unofficially, it is one of the most loved sights in Scotland.
Now it seems America may have had its own wee introduction to the tradition.
One photo shows a cone placed on a statue of George Washington, while another appears to show Samuel Adams receiving the same unmistakably Scottish treatment.
Posting on Facebook, Dan Witzke wrote:
“Citizens of Glasgow have a tradition of putting a traffic cone on the head of the statue of the Duke of Wellington. They've brought the tradition over here and Glasgow'd George Washington. I love it.”
Another Facebook user, Jacqueline Milne, summed it up perfectly:
“Brilliant!!! You've been Glasgowed.”
Nobody is officially claiming responsibility, of course. These things tend to happen in the mysterious hours between one good sing song and the next. But if Scotland fans are involved, it would be very on brand.
The Tartan Army have long been known for travelling with humour, warmth and a talent for making themselves remembered for all the right reasons. This feels like another one of those moments.
No damage. No drama. Just a cone, a statue and a very Glasgow sense of humour turning up thousands of miles from home.
America, consider yourself Glasgowed.
Image credits: Photos shared publicly on Facebook by Dan Witzke and Tanya Raymond, used here for editorial reporting and commentary with credit to the original posters.
