A Scotland fan living in Germany has grabbed a last minute ticket for the opening game of Euro 2024 – for only €50.
John Thomson bagged himself a bargain by buying a ticket that costs EIGHT times less than other briefs being sold for the clash against Germany in Munich on Friday. John, originally from Grangemouth, has lived in Düsseldorf for 14 years.
On Wednesday the 49-year-old was sent an alert that tickets for the seemingly sold-out fixture between Scotland and the host nation were available. And he managed to nab one of the cheapest seat's in the house, after shelling out €400 for Scotland’s second Group A clash a few days later in Cologne.
John, who has a 12-year-old daughter, Emma, told the Record: “I never had tickets for the opening game but I just had a feeling there might be a chance of one’s nearer the time. My boss told me that loads of tickets will pop up, so I kept checking everyday.
“Then 8.23am I got an email to say they were online. I jumped on to see there were 10 or 12 tickets sitting there all at different prices.
“I couldn’t believe my luck, I managed to grab one for just €50, some of them were going for eight times as much. It’s amazing because I’ve got tickets to see Scotland in Cologne as well and those are costing me €400.”
John reckons the tickets have dropped in from sponsors who have kindly returned briefs back to UEFA, something he says happened previously when the World Cup took over Germany in 2006.
He said: “The Germans are a lot more honest and do the right thing, rather than trying to flog their tickets, the sponsors have handed them back to UEFA to be resold.”
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John rushed to a Facebook fan page to alert fellow Tartan Army members of the news, sparking a frenzy for last minute tickets.
One delighted fan managed to buy four pairs thanks to John pointing them, after feeling that hope of seeing Steve Clarke’s heroes at the grand first game were gone.
He said: “A few fans have messaged me to thank me. I had to get the message out there that there might still be hope for some. I got lucky and I wanted to share that luck. One guy got in touch calling me a legend, I’m just glad other supporters have been able to a chance to be there.”
John has told how the bargain prices will have been due to a Fans First policy in Germany, which protects supporters from being priced out of football. And he thinks the price might indicate that he’ll be in with the home support on the day.
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He said: “I don’t see their being much segregation at the game, but that will be great fun. The German’s love the Scots, there will be no drama.
“It’s going to be an amazing feeling, being a Scot living in Germany and watching them play the opening of the Euros. The country (Germany) has been building up to this for years, the fact Scotland are here just makes it all the more special.”
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