An especially dedicated Rangers fan has set off on a 29-hour drive to Seville in a transit van in order to see his beloved team in the Europa League Final. They only problem is that he doesn’t have a ticket.
48-year-old Lee Penrice from Kinglassie in Fife began his almost 30 hour trip on Monday and expects to arrive in Spain in the early hours of Wednesday.
The Diageo worker was serving in Afghanistan the last time Rangers played a UEFA final in 2008 and he vowed to never miss the chance to seem them play the final ever again.
READ MORE - Scottish mum shares 'genius' £2 hack to get white clothes looking brand new
The Fife worker told the Daily Record:
"I don't think I'll be getting much sleep over the next few days but I think the adrenaline will keep us going.
"I still haven't got a ticket but I promised myself I would be there next time when I missed the match because I was in the army.
"My mates keep alerting me to tickets on sale, but the prices are ridiculous. So I've currently just got a ticket for one of the safe areas to watch from if I can't get into the stadium."
Lee is travelling with his brother-in-law Jamie Downie and the pair, accompanied by a cardboard cut-out of The Queen, were booked on a ferry from Dover at 3am on Tuesday morning before they will then make their way through France and into Spain.
Lee's Ford Transit van has been recently converted and makes it's first journey kitted out with all mod cons, including a fitted kitchen with breakfast bar and double bed under mood lighting on the roof.
Lee said: "We just got the transit converted, so this is it's first outing. It came together just in time!"
Spontaneous Lee has managed to overcome all sorts of barriers to get to Seville and seized the last minute opportunity to travel by road after negotiating shift swaps with a colleague.
The die hard fan will return home on Friday, before heading out again to watch Rangers play Hearts in the Scottish Cup Final on Saturday.
Lee added: "We'll get back late on Friday and then I'll be up and away to the game on Saturday, much to wife's annoyance! Although I at least have a ticket for that one!"
Wife Maureen added: "He's at every match so I'm used to it!
"He got the time off for Seville and just announced 'I'm going'.
"It's a huge length to go and see your team and you haven't even got a ticket. Lee and Jamie were all smiles when they set off, but we'll see how they feel at the end of their long journey!"
But Lee fancies his teams chances and isn;t predicting disappointment for the Gers.
"I'm confident after they way they've played in the competition", he added.
"The semi-final was probably the best match I've been to at Ibrox, so if we win it will only top the experience."
