June 19, 2026 by Cam Cyr and Hilary Jenison (photos by Joshua Ross)
For a group of Scottish friends and soccer (football) fans, a trip to Hingham has become about much more than football.
Originally from Glasgow, Scotland visiting Hingham for this year’s World Cup, Douglas Scott, Derek Byrne, Ross Haggerty, and Alistair Duff have spent their days exploring the town, building friendships, and experiencing American hospitality firsthand.
Their connection to Hingham began through a chance meeting with Paul McGovern, a Hingham resident and Hingham High School junior varsity soccer coach. Scott met McGovern while traveling in New Zealand a few years ago. Not surprisingly, they bonded while watching a football match during their travels. Connected through the sport, the two stayed in touch over the years. If Scotland ever made the World Cup and played in Massachusetts, which they both thought was highly unlikely, they agreed Scott would have to make the trip.
A visit to Hingham was far from guaranteed. Scotland had not qualified for the tournament in 28 years, and even if it did, there was no certainty the team would be drawn to play in Foxborough. Through what Scott says can only be described as “fate,” when everything finally fell into place, the opportunity for the trip the group had long dreamed about became a reality.
For the group of friends, the journey began months earlier while celebrating Christmas together in Scotland. They gathered in Glasgow to watch the World Cup draw and were stunned when they learned Foxborough had been selected for Scotland. They were cheering in the streets, and the excitement quickly turned into action. All their flights were booked within minutes.
Scott recalled reaching out to McGovern and the immediate response was, “Don’t argue, you’re coming and staying with me.”
Throughout their stay, the group has been hosted by Paul and Barbara McGovern, who have introduced them to Hingham and the surrounding area. They have taken a trip to Martha’s Vineyard, enjoyed sunsets in Hull and Hingham, been treated to a round of golf at Black Rock, and ventured into Boston. Although McGovern joked that he and his wife Barbara were a little nervous when Scott called two weeks ago and asked, “Can I bring a few more friends?” of course, the ultimate hosts didn’t hesitate.
Duff shared, “Paul and Barbara have been unbelievable, making us feel at home, feeding us, and touring us all around. We love Hingham and this beautiful country.”
The group said they have been welcomed by residents wherever they have gone. Even while visiting The Snug, the group received free drinks upon entry. They walked around introducing themselves to locals while cheering on Croatia to beat England (they didn’t hesitate at the chance to joke and share their distaste for their English archrivals).
All jokes aside, throughout their time with us at The Snug, they emphasized a simple message: Football unites people and brings the world together.
“Everyone has embraced the Tartan Army. They’ve matched our energy and joined right in,” they said while enjoying a beer.
When asked what it means to be in Hingham together for the World Cup, the group didn’t hesitate.
“Everything,” they said in unison, with tears in their eyes.
“It’s a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity,” Haggerty said. “We’ve been mates since we were boys, and we’ve stood in stadiums so many times and only dreamed of having the opportunity to do this. It’s just surreal to be here all together.”
The emotion of the moment has not faded. The group said they cried tears of joy during their national anthem, Flower of Scotland, before their first match against Haiti. They do not count out shedding a few more tears of joy when the anthem plays again before Scotland’s match against Morocco later today in Foxborough.
We know we will certainly be thinking of our new friends and cheering for Scotland tonight. As the Scots say, “No Scotland, No Party.”
Hilary Jenison is a Hingham resident, and is co-founder and publisher of the Hingham Anchor. Cam Cyr resides in Hingham and is a recent graduate of Syracuse University’s Newhouse School of Journalism.