A TARTAN Army foot soldier who’s driven to Germany in a souped-up camper van has told how a mystery biker begged him for a chat – only for it to be Ewan McGregor.
John McIntosh, 44, was ushered over by the Trainspotting star, 53, and his TV pal Charley Boorman after getting off the ferry in Amsterdam.
Charley Boorman, left, and Ewan McGregor, right, bumped into John in Amsterdam[/caption]
Charley and Ewan were in awe of John VW camper van[/caption]
The dad-of-two has a 58-year-old Volkswagen camper van which is kitted out in Scotland colours and pictures.
Last week he started his epic journey from his native Falkirk to Munich where Steve Clarke’s side face Germany on Friday night.
He said: “My van turns heads, it’s hard not to look at it.
“I noticed at the Newcastle ferry terminal that there were these guys on motorbikes. They had helmets and goggles on so it could’ve been Brad Pitt or Sylvester Stallone for all I knew.
“They were just waving at me but everyone waves at me in the van. So I just went onto the overnight ferry and loaded down for the night.
“In the morning the motorbikes were at the front as we were getting off the ferry so I was just back from them.
“At passport control there was this one particular guy in a white helmet.
“He’s gesturing to me and really, really pointing at me to come over here and wanting to speak to me. I thought he was a tourist.
“I’m thinking what the hell does this guy want. As I moved closer he took his goggles off and I thought it can’t be. Then he took his helmet off and it was Ewan McGregor.
“I’m thinking wait a minute here and then the penny dropped when I saw Charley Boorman.
“They were both walking around the van and asking where I was going.
“Ewan was a humble guy, just a normal person. He was saying that he couldn’t believe these things were still on the road. He said we done for keeping this thing going.
“He’s not really a football guy and wasn’t sure where the games are getting played.
“Charley was an absolute gentleman as well. They were just proper good guys.
“I spent a couple of minutes with them and then off we went.”
Ewan famously had a sex scene in Trainspotting with Scotland legend Archie Gemmill’s goal against the Netherlands playing in the background.
Afterwards the actor’s character Renton utters, “I haven’t felt that good since Archie Gemmill scored against Holland in 1978.”
And John was left kicking himself at a missed opportunity to commemorate the scene.
He said: “Here’s the thing, I slipped up monumentally. On one side of my van I’m celebrating yesteryear and Archie Gemmill is on it.
“When I got back in the van there was a Sharpie lying there and I should have got him to sign the van.”
John also managed to bag a video with the pair in front of the van – which he orginally named Elvis.
Ewan says: “Alright Scotland, good luck at the Euros. Woo hoo. Look out for Elvis here.”
And the madcap fan has other stories to tell about his wheels and road trip.
He said: “Some people are blown away by this van as it’s 58 years old and hanging by a tack.
“My mechanic is Ally Smith deserves an Olympic gold medal for how this van has got here.
“The whole of Europe are obviously up for the Euros. I get a great welcome wherever I go and the police are brand new.
“I’m on my own so I went out for a few beers. I thought I was being smart dropping a pin on Google Maps to mark the van’s location.
“But then I got in tow with this stag party and my battery went. I didn’t take any mental notes so lost the van for a couple of hours.”
John – who doesn’t have a ticket for Friday’s showdown – is now on his way to the Scotland camp where he hopes to meet the players.
The van was called Elvis but for the trip has been renamed Sloop John B – the nickname of John’s pal and ex Scotland star John Blackly who starred at the 1974 World Cup.
Blackly, 76, played in the 2-0 win over Zaire which will be 50 years to day when Andy Robertson and co face the hosts at the Allianz Arena.
