SANDI THOM FRONTRUNNER FOR SCOTLAND WORLD CUP

Photo from Sandi Thom Insta 

Scots singer Sandi Thom looks like a front runner to record the official Scotland team football anthem after she played her new track at a secret gathering in the First Minister’s official residence.
The Banff-born star, 44, was invited to Bute House in Edinburgh by John Swinney for an intimate evening celebrating the charity efforts of mental health campaigner Craig Ferguson, who is walking from Los Angeles to Boston for SAMH.
As well as key figures from the Scottish Government, the guest list included senior officials and representatives from the world of Scottish football, giving Sandi the perfect chance to pitch her song as the nation’s next big terrace tune.
Sandi, who shot to fame in 2006 when her debut single I Wish I Was A Punk Rocker (With Flowers In My Hair) knocked Gnarls Barkley’s Crazy off the top of the charts and went to number one in seven countries, performed a new track called ‘Oh I’m Proud To Be From Scotland’.
The tune is a love letter to the beautiful game north of the Border.
It traces Scottish football history from the Seventies right up to today and namechecks some of the biggest legends ever to pull on the dark blue jersey.
One guest at Bute House told the Daily Record: “Sandi played her song to the party after being invited as one of the special guests. It’s a chronology of Scottish football history, name dropping all the key players from the 1970s to present day and it's called ‘Oh I’m Proud To Be From Scotland’.
“It went down really well. Everyone in the room could picture it being sung by Scotland fans. It’s got a rousing chorus that the Tartan Army will love.”
Another insider added: “Scottish football is part of who we are. To have a song that celebrates that history and to hear people singing it back is a winning formula.” 
Sandi also played the track on her phone privately for Scottish FA chief executive Ian Maxwell in a bid to secure official approval for the song to become Scotland’s team anthem for the 2026 World Cup campaign.
If it gets the green light, it will join a proud tradition of Scottish footie anthems including 1998’s Don’t Come Home Too Soon by Del Amitri, 1986’s Big Trip To Mexico by the Scotland World Cup Squad and 1978’s Ally’s Tartan Army by Andy Cameron.
This time, competition for the coveted slot is fierce. 
Other contenders include We Are Scotland… World Cup 2026 by Martin Considine, Calum MacPhail’s as-yet-unnamed 2026 song and a new Scotland track being lined up by Scottish boyband Just The Brave.
For Sandi, the chance to represent her country on the world stage comes at a pivotal moment in her life and career.
The singer became one of the UK’s first viral music stars when she livestreamed a series of gigs from her basement flat and built a global fanbase online.
That surprise success led to major label backing and a worldwide distribution deal despite the fact she had no traditional sales history before Punk Rocker exploded.
In 2016, after the birth of her son Logan Cali with former husband Matt Benson, Sandi made the decision to step back from the spotlight to focus on motherhood and her passion for animal welfare.
She has since devoted herself to volunteer work and has helped rehome hundreds of street dogs.
Sandi describes herself as ‘somewhat of a rebel with a cause’ and has never lost her connection with her audience. Her music has now wracked up over 70 million streams on Spotify alone, and she regularly hears from fans who discovered Punk Rocker as teenagers and are now returning to her songs as adults.
With Logan now ten, Sandi says she feels ready to return to her first love performing and writing with a fresh sense of purpose.
Landing the Scotland anthem would be the perfect way to mark that comeback.
This year is already shaping up to be one of the most important of her career.
Sandi is celebrating the 20th anniversary of I Wish I Was A Punk Rocker with a packed schedule of live dates.
She is set to appear on the main stage at both Heartland and Party At The Palace festivals and will hit the road for a 25-date UK tour, revisiting the song that changed her life.

CHRIS HUGHES MENTAL HEALTH TRIP TO GLASGOW

Chris Hughes met up with Scotland’s First Minister John Swinney and Traitors winner Meryl Williams on a visit to Scotland for a Burns supper.

Celebrity Masterchef’s Chris, who appeared at the event in his pink jacket and black shirt and trousers without his US girlfriend JoJo Siwa, shared photos on Instagram from the SAMH charity event at the Collectors Hall in Glasgow. 

Meryl also proudly showed off her new facial surgery and breast augmentation and uplift from earlier this month in a revealing silky dress from Zara, altered by her granny, also mingled with guests on the night. 

Chris, who tucked into Scotland’s traditional dish of haggis neeps and tatties, appeared at the event to support Craig Ferguson, a mental health advocate from Paisley who is set to walk more than 3000 miles across America to raise funds and awareness for Scottish Action for Mental Health. 


He said of the night: “So honoured to have joined Craig and the charity this evening at the @thecollectorshall, before he sets sail across America! This is honestly insane, in so many ways!

“'The Tartan Trek' will be Craig walking a MARATHON A DAY, for over 100 days, all on his own, with just his best friend in a support van which essentially will be his place to sleep on many occasions! He deserves everyone behind him supporting this. I can wait to keep track on this.”

He added: “Go and make your country proud Craig, and the rest of the world who will be supporting you in this incredible trek! A wholesome night!”

John Swinney told revellers on the night: 

“When I heard Craig was going to take on this challenge, I thought it was a fabulous idea, and to do it in aid of SAMH demonstrates a tremendous level of personal commitment and dedication.

“As a society, we must continue to create space for people to express how they feel. There is a great deal of pressure today, not least through social media, which makes this openness even more important. Sport has a unique way of bringing people together, and this challenge truly reflects that power.

“My advice to Craig would be to keep his eye firmly on the prize of Boston, where I’m sure he will receive a phenomenal welcome when he arrives.”

Craig is coordinating his Tartan Trek from LA on February 23, to arrive in Boston 104 days later to coordinate with the arrival of the Scotland team in the US For the World Cup.

He previously walked 1000 miles in 2024 from Glasgow to Munich ahead of the UEFA European Championship, which raised more than £70,000 for the men’s mental health charity Brothers in Arms.