Meet the man who has created Scotland's 'unofficial' song for the 2024 Euros

A Scottish singer-songwriter has created a tune for Scotland ahead of the 2024 UEFA European Football Championships in Germany.

Before the competition kicks off on June 14, Michael McMillan from Thornliebank has made a song which he hopes becomes the country’s official song throughout the prestigious contest and beyond.

Speaking on the song, which he called Scotland (Unofficial) Euro’s 2024, Michael said: “I’m really happy and pleased with how the song has turned out.

“My goal is for it to be opted as the official Scottish song for the Euro’s 2024 and beyond.

“I would love for people to buy it and to be able to play it at halftime, that’s the aim.

“I would love the SFA to play it at halftime at all the upcoming friendlies and at all other games and football grounds.”

The 67-year-old went on to say that he created the song with friends and like-minded people before recording it at The Foundry Music Lab in Motherwell.

It was officially released on May 10 and before that, Michael played a version of the song at the SNP Burns Supper at The Redhurst Hotel on January 28, which was in the presence of now First Minister John Swinney and other SNP candidates.

However, the song was not born out of Michael’s hopes to create a football classic but instead from a bout of homesickness.

He explained: “I actually wrote the song a while ago when I was in America.

“I was dealing with a lot of homesickness and just wanted to write about Scotland and what I was feeling at that time."

Michael tends to tour around America for six months of the year, which he has done frequently throughout his 25 years of creating music.

If that were not impressive enough, Michael is also currently working on his ninth album after his last, Heaven Sent Ranch, was nominated for Scottish Album of the Year at the Scottish Music Industry Awards last year.

Michael also recently embarked on a 22-date tour around male prisons in Scotland to play to inmates. This was part of a play called The Insiders, which starred former River City star Garry Sweeney, The Angel’s Share actor Neil Leiper and British actor Sam Rowe. He was asked to create and play the music for the play after the stars of the production heard his previous work.

He said the experience felt right having been a police officer and addictions counsellor for 15 years.

Michael’s song is now available to listen to or download on all streaming platforms including the likes of Spotify.

You can also check out the song on YouTube.

For more information on Michael’s music, you can check out his website HERE