Danny Goram, son of Scotland goalkeeping legend Andy Goram, has publicly backed a Tartan Army fan who is carrying his father's unused 1998 World Cup kilt to this year's tournament in the USA to raise money for charity.
Fan's mission with Goram's kilt
Stephen Reside, a 32-year-old Scotland supporter from Rutherglen, is taking the kilt that was made for Andy Goram before he withdrew from the 1998 World Cup squad. The garment has finally made it to the world stage after 28 years. Reside plans to auction the kilt after the tournament to raise funds for Scotland's cerebral palsy football team, which aims to compete in the World Cup in Atlanta, USA, in October.
In a video message, Danny Goram said: "Hello Stephen, Danny Goram here. I hope you're having a great time at the World Cup. The games and fans look amazing. Hopefully you get a result on Wednesday. I think they'll get through to the knockouts. History made, let's go."
Emotional journey of the kilt
Every member of Craig Brown's 1998 Scotland squad was measured for a kilt before the tournament, but Andy Goram's kilt was never worn after he withdrew three weeks before the competition, having learned he would not be the first-choice goalkeeper. For 28 years, the kilt sat untouched in an Edinburgh attic, preserved by retired marketing executive Andy Smith, who helped arrange the Kinloch Anderson sponsorship deal for the Scotland squad.
Stephen Reside, who has cerebral palsy, has now brought the kilt to the USA. He wore it to a bar in Florida to watch Scotland's match against Morocco and intends to wear it at the Hard Rock Stadium in Miami for Scotland's game against Brazil on Wednesday. Reside said: "I am delighted to be able to do this and keep alive the memory of one of Scotland's greatest goalkeepers. Andy Goram had a great passion for Scotland and I know how disappointed he was when he didn't make the World Cup in 1998. To be able to take the kilt to the World Cup, the first since Andy passed, is quite fitting."
Personal connection and charity goal
Reside first met Goram when he was four years old during the goalkeeper's spell at Motherwell between 1998 and 2001. Their friendship continued, with Reside later visiting Goram at his pub in Rutherglen. Danny Goram praised Reside's efforts and offered support: "It's great work what you have done with the kilt and getting it over there. I hope you're doing really well getting funds and all the best getting it back to auction it off for the Cerebral Palsy Foundation to get the team over to America. Good luck with all of that. If I can do anything to help, let me know."
Goram, nicknamed The Goalie, was diagnosed with stage four oesophageal cancer in April 2022 and died on July 2, 2022, at St Andrew's Hospice in Airdrie, surrounded by his loved ones, including Danny, his ex-wife Miriam, and former Rangers striker Ally McCoist.
