Is British tourism making the most of the world’s obsession with football?

At an English Premier League match in Liverpool last month I was amazed at the number of nationalities sitting beside me: American, German, Danish, Irish, Japanese. All had come to the UK primarily to watch the match.

All Premier League clubs attract followings around the world, some more than others. Many will pay a few thousand pounds just to watch one game, with accompanying hospitality, hotel stays and visits to nearby attractions.

Celtic and Rangers are the biggest equivalents in Scotland although Aberdeen, Hearts and Hibs (and alas to a lesser extent my own home town club St Johnstone) may disagree.

Are they doing enough to cash in for the benefit of themselves and Scottish tourism? I doubt it.