DAVID LEASK and GERRY BRAIDEN

He came in nothing but the clothes he stood in and with nothing but half a loaf of bread and a tin of Spam to sustain him for the biggest party of his life. Meet Der Waters, Rangers supporter, and one of 100,000 men, women and children determined to celebrate tonight's Rangers Uefa Cup final, win or lose, in the city where their team is playing.

The 43-year-old scaffolder from Johnstone spent last night in a borrowed tent pitched on a rugby field five miles from the City of Manchester Stadium. He won't be at the game. Not in person, anyway. Few of the massive support making their way south will. But he and his fellow supporters passionately believe they can send their players the most powerful message they can: Win it for us, Win it for Scotland.

"I just had to be here," Der said last night, basking in the late evening sunshine at Burnage Rugby Club in Cheshire, the self-styled Bear Camp, where around 4000 fans are making their home. "The locals have been great. They have even let us fly our Saltire on their flagpole."

Der and his friends made their way south in a huge convoy of buses and cars. Many, including Der, began their journey at Ibrox Park. The way was marked by fans. "Every bridge, every flyover we passed on the way down was covered in red, white and blue bunting and union jacks and waving Rangers supporters," said William Hutchison, 46, from Knightswood in Glasgow. "It was something else."

By the time the convoy got to Manchester the main motorway ringroad was choked with coaches bedecked in Union Flags and Lion Rampants. Frustrated motorists had no choice but to enjoy the spectacle.

This was the most friendly of invasions. And the most varied. Among the advancing red-white-and-blue army were footsoldiers from all over the world. There was 79-year Jim Reid from Beith, North Ayrshire, who made the journey after cancelling an operation scheduled for the day of the match. There was Gary Brisbane, from, despite his name, Melbourne, who had jumped on a jumbo jet to England despite missing his daughter Kelsey's fifth birthday, which is today. "My wife is Australian," he said. "She doesn't really understand but she let me go."

Among the throng was Nial MacDougall, an oil engineer from Baku in Azerbaijan, who spent £3000 for the last-minute trip. "I wasn't going to miss this," he said.

All are determined that Rangers fans should cast Scottish football - and Scotland - in the best possible light. John Smeaton, hero of the Glasgow Airport terror attack and avid Teddy Bear, remembered how supporters of his team's arch-rivals celebrated their 2003 Uefa final. "Celtic did Scotland proud in Seville," he said. "Now it is the turn of Rangers fans to show that we are mad - but only for a good time." Rangers fans outnumbered those of their opponents, Zenit St Petersburg, by 10 to one.

It wasn't just the blue half of Glasgow that made it to Manchester.

Two of the city's biggest Celtic supporters were in town, too: Lord Provost Bob Winter and city council leader Steven Purcell. "Even on the motorway there was a real carnival atmosphere and everyone seemed in great spirits," Mr Purcell said. "We stopped at a motorway service station and the banter was terrific. Here I was, one of the most well-known Celtic supporters in Glasgow, on my way to support Rangers and taking some good-natured pelters. As one guy said to me, you've got to put Glasgow first."

First Minister Alex Salmond will join the party. The Hearts supporter will be with Sports Minister Stewart Maxwell, who despite keeping his allegiances close to his chest, has been named by colleagues as a Gers fan. Will McLeish, the First Minister's spokesman and Rangers supporter, said: "This continues the renaissance of our football and we look forward to Rangers returning with the trophy."

Political leaders and celebrities will enjoy the game in comfort - and with a ticket. The real party may be outside the ground tonight.

Tens of thousands of fans are expected to gather before five big screens for the match. Some will spend the night there. "A lot of people won't be able to drive home after the match and will have to sleep in open spaces," admitted Vicky Rosin of Manchester City Council. "At least the weather is nice."

Back at the Bear Camp, Der is poking fun at the couple in the next tent. Ross Cowper, 30, and Jillian Jarvie, from Lanarkshire, have left their three children with granny, determined to be part of the festival - even if it means "kipping" in a tent miles from the stadium. Der nodded at Mr Cowper and said: "He told his missus she was staying at the Hilton."