As Scotland prepares for its opening Euro 2020 match on Monday - in the national men’s team’s first appearance at a major tournament for 23 years - the excitement is building throughout the country.

But nowhere more so than in the players’ old schools, where there is a special frisson of excitement from knowing that someone who once sat in the same classrooms and walked the same corridors will be taking to the Hampden pitch at 2pm.

So Tes Scotland contacted schools where the national team’s players spent their formative years, to see if they would like to send a good luck message to their own local hero.

Euro 2020: Players’ old schools say ‘C’mon Scotland!’

Here’s the amazing response that came back - enjoy.

To Scotland captain Andy Robertson - from St Joseph’s Primary School, in Busby, and St Ninian’s High School, in Giffnock

St Ninian’s High said: “All at St Ninian’s are very proud of the outstanding sports person you are and we are looking forward with pride, excitement and admiration as you captain our national men’s team in their first major competition since 1998.

“You are an excellent role model for our young people and you have provided them with the belief that through hard work and dedication all possibilities are attainable. Ad Astra!”

To Billy Gilmour - from Grange Academy, in Kilmarnock

To Stephen O’Donnell - from St Thomas’ Primary School and St Aidan’s High School, both in Wishaw

To Callum McGregor - from Lochend Community High School, in Glasgow

To Kieran Tierney - from Our Lady’s High School, in Motherwell

“Good luck, Kieran, from everyone at OLHS Motherwell. We are so proud of you and the Scotland lads and cannot wait! Enjoy every second...we certainly will.

“Good luck, mate, from Mrs [Lorraine] McNeish and the OLHS football teams.”

To David Turnbull - from Coltness High School, in Wishaw

To Scott McKenna - from Webster’s High School, in Kirriemuir

To John McGinn - from St Stephen’s Primary School and St Peter the Apostle High School, both in Clydebank

@SPTA_HS Sending All the very Best to @jmcginn7 from the community of St Peter the Apostle HS #GoScotland pic.twitter.com/yKmiWslDp2

- SPTA (@SPTA_HS) June 14, 2021

To Craig Gordon - from Balerno High School, in Edinburgh

To Nathan Patterson - from Holyrood Secondary School, in Glasgow

Headteacher Sharon Watson said: “Nathan, all of the young people and staff of Holyrood are right behind you and your teammates.

“We are so proud of you and will all be watching. All the best!”

To James Forrest - from Prestwick Academy

Good luck to former pupil James Forrest in the upcoming Scotland matches, we are so proud of you! @ScotlandNT @sfa @pwkacademy pic.twitter.com/1HkJ8A8TDF

- Prestwick Academy Guidance Team (@PrestwickTeam) June 14, 2021

To Ryan Christie - from Crown Primary School, in Inverness

To Stuart Armstrong - from Hazlehead Academy, in Aberdeen

To Kevin Nisbet - from Trinity High School, in Rutherglen

“Good luck, Kevin - we are supporting the team all the way. God bless.” Trinity High RE department 

“Wishing you the best of luck at the Euros, Kevin. Trinity is rooting for you and the rest of the boys!” Your old home ec teacher, Mrs McCulloch 

“Kevin was a lovely boy, funny and always was the joker of the class. Everyone liked him and we are so happy to see him do so well! We are very proud of him - c’mon Scotland!” Ms Haldane

“Best wishes, Kevin, I look forward to seeing you score at the Euros.” Mr Daly

To David Marshall - from St Andrew’s Secondary School, in Glasgow

To Greg Taylor - from Clydeview Academy, in Gourock

Greg Taylor is pictured below during his time playing for Clydeview Academy, in the back row, second from the right:

To John Fleck - from Knightswood Secondary School, in Glasgow

“John Fleck was always an elite performer at his time in Knightswood and has gone on and fulfilled his undoubted potential in a successful club career in the top-flight leagues of both England and Scotland,” said depute headteacher John Hood.

“Everyone at Knightswood Secondary wishes John and the rest of the Scotland team every success at Euro 2020 and we hope to be cheering them on to the later stages of the tournament.”