Scotland Fans Brought a Weird Glasgow Tradition to Boston and Statues Are Getting Cone’d

If you’ve walked past a statue in Boston this week and done a double take, you’re not alone. Scotland’s Tartan Army has landed, and they brought something strange with them: traffic cones on top of historic heads.

Thousands of Scotland supporters have flooded into Massachusetts for the World Cup, where the men’s national team is playing its first two group matches. And they’ve brought a beloved bit of Glasgow mischief along for the ride.

The tradition comes straight from the Duke of Wellington statue outside Glasgow’s Gallery of Modern Art. Since the late 1980s, somebody has been sneaking a cone onto that statue’s head. City workers take it off. Fans put it right back. It’s a running joke that’s become a cultural touchstone.

Now Boston is getting the same treatment.

Samuel Adams got crowned. Bill Russell too.

NBC Boston caught footage of Scotland fans trying to get a cone onto the statue of founding father Samuel Adams. The pedestal is tall, so it took a few tries. Eventually, one fan climbed up and balanced it there.

A cone also appeared on the statue of Celtics legend Bill Russell. That one feels almost fitting — Russell was all about team spirit and joy, and this is pure joyful chaos.

Lee Turnbull, a Scotland-born fan who lives in California now, told the Boston Globe that fans talked about bringing the cone thing over before the tournament even started. “As soon as someone saw a cone and decided to put it on a statue, it just took over,” he said. “It’s a little mark, it’s a little bit of fun. It now defines a culture, almost.”

The Globe noted that Scotland fans have “the occasional penchant for tomfoolery.” That’s putting it lightly. Boston bars have been slammed, with some reportedly running out of beer. The energy is loud, and it’s everywhere.

What’s next for Scotland on the pitch

All of this is happening while Scotland’s team handles business. They beat Haiti 1-0 to open the tournament. Next up is Morocco on Friday night, and then a group-stage finale against five-time champions Brazil in Miami on June 24. Brazil only managed a 1-1 draw with Morocco in their opener, so Group B is wide open.

But for now, the story in Boston is the fans. They’re not just watching soccer. They’re leaving their mark — orange, pointy, and impossible to ignore.