The heartbroken family of a Celtic fan who vanished in Spain almost two years ago have revealed how 'tough' it has been since then ahead of spending another Christmas without him.

Gary Watson Shearer, from Renfrew, arrived in the resort of Puerto del Carmen to celebrate St Patrick's Day on March 16, 2023,

The 53-year-old Hoops loyal was then last seen in the early hours of the next morning, and he then failed to show up for his flight home a week later.

(Image: Newsquest) Since going missing 21 months ago, his devastated family have not stopped hunting for answers on what happened to their loved one.

READ MORE: 'Living nightmare': Family of missing Celtic fan in Spain share Christmas heartache

However, ahead of Christmas this year and Gary's 55th birthday on December 21, his sister, Debbie Shearer revealed his family isn't doing 'too good'.

She told the Glasgow Times: "We thought as time went on; we would be able to adjust our lives to dealing with it, but it seems to be going the opposite way.

“We seem to be struggling more because we know as time goes on, we’re going to get nothing at all. Nothing.

“It’s been tough.”

(Image: Newsquest) The heartbroken sister added: “Last month we got together as a family and decided we would need to look into clearing Gary’s flat.

“We started doing it in November and I think that’s when reality hit us that we’re never going to see him whereas before we always hung on to a bit of hope.

“Over three days, we started cleaning his flat, but it was just too hard.”

While clearing out the devoted Celtic fan's home, Debbie said it was difficult as it's like they are 'visually seeing it now that he's not coming back'.

READ MORE: Detailed timeline released for Celtic fan missing in Spain

The 49-year-old added: “Before, we could always plod on and think ‘Aw maybe we’ll see him or whatever else’, but when we’re going into his flat now and there’s nothing in it, like personal stuff, that’s when reality hits us.”

However, with Xmas Day fast approaching, the caring sibling said she, and her sister Nikki, are trying their ‘hardest’ to make it as ‘normal as possible’ for their children and grandchildren.

“Last year was just a blur for us all because we were that heartbroken and devastated but as time goes on, we’re realising we need to keep strong and keep going for the sake of our kids and grandkids,” Debbie said.

The broken-hearted sister emotionally added: “Christmas is going to be tough again and we keep thinking maybe this year we’ll hear some news but as the years are going by, we’re not getting anything.”

In June 2024, we reported how Gary’s family were told by Spanish police they had ‘exhausted all leads’.

Several months after being told the upsetting news, Debbie said: “I don’t understand how the case can be closed when our brother is still out there.

“We know he’s not alive.

"Whether Gary went into the water or had a seizure at the water or whatever else, we do not know, but all we know is he’s not here.”

(Image: Newsquest) While the family try to carry on with their lives, Debbie said she fears Gary will be forgotten about.

Upsettingly, she said: “The only fear I’ve got is Gary being forgotten about.

"Gary’s story being forgotten about.

"That’s the biggest fear because we are living with it daily and it’s destroying us.

“It’s destroyed my Dad as a man and as a person. It’s heartbreaking. You never see my Dad cry but since this has happened with Gary, he’s been emotional, it’s just heartbreaking.”

As the family continue to fight to find out what happened to the much-loved footy fan, Debbie says she wants more to be done to discover what happened, but she also has her doubts.

She added: “I think it’s been left too late. I think there wasn’t enough done at the actual time Gary went missing.

“If there was more done at that point, we’d maybe be sitting in a different situation.”

(Image: Newsquest) Meanwhile, as the family prepare to spend Gary’s 55th birthday without knowing what has happened to him, his kind-hearted sister says they are hoping to celebrate his life.

Debbie said: “For his birthday we’re hoping to mark it with some sort of celebration of his life.

"We were thinking along the lines of going to Celtic Park and letting off balloons.”

In August 2023, we reported that authorities were looking to speak to a mystery man who was last seen on CCTV walking with Gary on March 17, 2023.

READ MORE: New CCTV footage of missing Celtic fan in Spain revealed

READ MORE: Family of missing Celtic fan in Spain reveal new CCTV found

Meanwhile, in March 2024, one year on from his disappearance, Gary's mum, Ann McMurray, told the Glasgow Times she was 'heartbroken' and just wanted to find out 'what happened to him'.

After he vanished in March 2023, Spanish cops searched the area in June 2023.

However, we previously revealed that this search was unsuccessful.

The football fan disappeared from outside Bar 67 in Puerto del Carmen, however, CCTV cameras show he was lying unconscious in a shop doorway next to the pub at around 1.30am on March 17, 2023.

READ MORE: Family of Celtic fan who vanished one year ago reveal heartache of losing hope

(Image: Newsquest) Gary's loved ones have also previously flown out to the resort to carry out their own search.

The Renfrewshire man was last seen wearing a Celtic top, shorts, and white Nike trainers with green and yellow flashes.

The UK Foreign Office and The Spanish Guardia Civil have been contacted for comment.