Introducing The Innerleithen Tartan Army



Where is Innerleithen?

“Innerleithen is the eighth largest settlement in the Scottish Borders and is situated near the junction of Leithen Water and the River Tweed in the eastern part of Tweeddale. There are good links with Peebles (6 miles) and Galashiels (12 miles) with Glasgow and Edinburgh also within easy reach. The B709 coming from Heriot in the north (14 miles) via Leithen Valley also passes through the town before proceeding south via Traquair to Yarrow Valley and St. Mary's Loch (15 miles). Innerleithen is an excellent centre for golf, fishing, mountain biking, walking and bowling and the Southern Upland Way is within easy reach.

Innerleithen enjoys a busy events calendar throughout the year, including musical and sporting pursuits. There is an amazing array of local organisations, catering for a wide variety of interests”

Taken from an Innerleithen Website.


Innerleithen is also famous (locally) for its annual Border festival – “The St Ronans Border Games” A.K.A Games Week! This joyous occasion commemorates St Ronan (Inzo’s patron saint) ridding the town of evil by getting shot of Satan (The De’il) by cleikin’ ’im” (catching him) by his bestial leg with his episcopal crook and sending him back to hell. These days, he’d probably just use a smashed bottle of Buckfast (its on special offer at the corner shop!)

Inzo in all its glory and St Ronan doing the bizz.



Innerleithen is home to our local football club Vale of Leithen. From the picture below you can see their home ground “Victoria Park”. It’s an all standing stadium (unless its dry you can sit on the grass) . It has a nice main stand which kind locals have decorated in fine literature. This comes in handy if the game is a bit slow, you can take time and read fine passages such as “Free the weed” and “IYP” (slang for Innerleithen Youth Project). Although we don’t frequent the Vale as much as we would like, it is definitely worth going to watch a game, even if it is just for the delish pies. They play in the East of Scotland 1st Division.




Who are the ITA?

Innerleithen Tartan Army support the Scottish national football team (or anyone England are playing). The Tartan Army have a proud reputation for being the friendliest fans in the world and have a huge amount of passion for our team win, lose or draw. We are proud to follow that tradition and have made many friends on our travels to home games and indeed away games too.

Innerleithen Tartan Army started out in 2005 when 3 Innerleithen lads thought it was time the town had some representation at the football! They clubbed together and bought the Innerleithen Tartan Army flag, which now gets a badge sewn on it for every country it visits. The ITA and the flag's first outing was at the San Siro in Milan to watch Italy humble Scotland 2-0 in a World Cup Qualifier in 2005. The original flag, due to its many travels, has unfortunately seen better days and its appearance is some what dilapidated! However in summer 2007 with a forthcoming trip to Paris it was announced that funds would be raised to buy a new flag and our first ever sponsor was announced;The St Ronan's Hotel – The Top Pub. The new flag will make its debut in Paris.

The ITA has been growing at a healthy rate since its conception. Sponsorships, T-Shirts, representation at every Scotland home game since 2005 and even a club crest have been produced.

Our crest was designed by Alistair Sargent and Dave Tyszko and shows Innerleithen's patron saint, St Ronan, with a saltire behind him.

The Innerleithen Tartan Army Badge


The ITA have a healthy number of members and we always encourage more, however it is asked that anyone interested in coming with the ITA for future travels is a member of the Scotland Supporters Club, as this enables us to get more tickets, please visit the SFA website for information.

If you would like more information about the ITA or attending games please get in touch with us at:

Innerleithenta@hotmail.co.uk



Disclaimer:The views expressed on this site are those solely of the ITA and not the good town's people of Innerleithen. Some information was found at www.innerleithen.org.uk The cleikum crest can also be found at said location. valeofleithen.co.uk was used for the Vale crest. Don’t sue us, we’re just loveable rouges!



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