How the Tartan Army could link Ayr with an American state

The past summer saw thousands of Scotland fans head to America to cheer on the national team at the World Cup.

While Scotland's games were played in Boston and Miami, many Scots based themselves elsewhere - with about 5,000 staying in Providence, Rhode Island.

Now one region could wind up with closer links Stateside as a result.

South Ayrshire councillors last week unanimously backed an application by the Ayr-Providence Friendship Initiative (APFI) that hopes to set up a formal friendship agreement between Ayr and Providence, the state capital of America's smallest state.

But what would a friendship agreement between the areas actually mean?

Providence is 25 miles away from the Boston Stadium in Foxborough, Massachusetts, where Scotland fans enjoyed the ecstasy of defeating Haiti 1-0 in the country's first men's World Cup game since 1998 - and then the disappointment of defeat to Morocco by the same score.

Many fans chose to stay there to save money, with prices cheaper then in Boston, and the area "became a Tartan Army camp", in the words of Jason Skimming, a fan who is now involved in the campaign for a friendship agreement.

While there, the Tartan Army quickly won friends among locals, much like they did in Boston itself.

In June, Robert Copeland told BBC Scotland News: "The community has welcomed us with open arms - the other night a local man stuck my drinks on his tab and we got chatting. We're now going to keep in contact and I've told him to come to Scotland.

"We weren't sure what to expect staying here, but it feels like a community."

Scotland fans showed their appreciation to their hosts in several ways, including raising money for local good causes - with $10,000 doated to Hasbro Children's Hospital.

Further funds went towards the Rhode Island Highlanders, to allow them to set up bagpipe tuition in local schools.

The money had been raised via donations and tickets sold to travel to the games on a fleet of yellow school buses that had been secured by the Tartan Army.

The kindness was reciprocated, as various groups, bars, restaurants and locals earned over $10,500 that was then donated to Glasgow Children's Hospital.

The warm vibes between the Tartan Army and their hosts resulted in several supporters contacting South Ayrshire Council when they returned from the tournament.

Jason Skimming had stayed in Providence, and was keen to keep the relationship going with the American state.

He explained: "The welcome we received was incredible and we struck up genuine, lasting friendships with people there.

"When we came home, we felt quite strongly that we didn't want that relationship to end just because the World Cup was over. That's really where the idea of creating a formal friendship between Ayr and Providence came from."

The group suggested "a formal civic agreement could be pursued with Providence to build on the relationships forged during the World Cup".

This would result in the formal friendship agreement being set up.

This is not the same as when towns or cities are twinned together, the way Ayr currently is with St Germain en laye in France.

Those arrangements require what the council describes as "extensive and lasting commitment from both places involved", as well as council support drawn from the civic budget.

A friendship agreement is a step or two below that, with the main driver of the link-up coming via a group like the Ayr-Providence Friendship Initiative, rather than the council itself. The local authority instead works in partnership "where appropriate".

Discussions have already taken place between the APFI and the Mayor's office in Providence.

However, for any further progress, the APFI needed to submit an application form, showing it was backed by South Ayrshire Council.

Now that this has been approved, the application form can be submitted.

Council papers show the possible friendship could take effect in a number of ways, some more ambitious than others.

One suggestion could explore establishing flights between Providence and Prestwick Airport, which the council notes "would represent a very significant economic opportunity."

Annual business delegations, covering shared fields like construction, renewable energy, hospitality, food & drink and manufacturing, are another option.

Shared projects in schools in both regions, linked-up youth football, rugby, golf and coaching programmes and cultural events - like Burns celebrations or Highland Games - celebrating both Scottish and American culture could also be on the cards.

Jason Skimming told BBC Scotland News there is "huge potential for this to grow into something meaningful", citing with cultural and educational exchanges, links between schools and universities and opportunities for tourism and business.

He added: "The response so far has been incredibly positive, both here and in Providence.

"What started with a group of Scotland fans looking for somewhere to stay has developed into an opportunity to create a lasting relationship between two communities on opposite sides of the Atlantic.

"I think that's a brilliant legacy from the World Cup."