I HAVE no idea who won the semi-final match between England and Croatia yesterday and to be totally honest I really don't care. Various correspondents have accused anyone who does not support England and enjoy the wall-to-wall media hysteria of being disloyal or a hater of the English. They state authoritatively that the English are much more high-minded and always support Scotland against other nations.
Allow me to disabuse them of this fantasy. My father was English but lived in Scotland most of his life, yet he would support any country or team which was playing against a Scottish team at any sport. This can be best illustrated when he and I attended the inaugural floodlit match at Hampden in 1962. Of the 105,000 in attendance 104,999 were supporting Rangers and one (guess who) was supporting Eintracht Frankfurt. As the score got progressively worse the bears could be heard growling. Five minutes before the final whistle with Eintracht leading 5-1 a big Glasgow bobby tapped me on the shoulder and advised me to get my father out of there now before things got very nasty.
So please don't tell me that the English are happy to support Scotland. The resultant effect of this upbringing is that I still have no interest in football but can't bring myself to ever support the England rugby team.
David Stubley,
22 Templeton Crescent, Prestwick.
AMID the hysteria around World Cup football I listened to The John Beattie Show on BBC Radio Scotland today (July 11) and found that the sports report was indeed the football report. You might find this understandable but surely our national broadcaster has a duty to report on the fact that four major golf championships, namely the Scottish Open, The Open, Seniors Open and Ladies Open are all taking place here starting tomorrow over the next few weeks.
These golf events are hugely more significant to our economy and we should celebrate our true national sport, not that the football-obsessed BBC would notice or care. It’s little wonder that golf has turned to Sky for support given the BBC gives it scant regard. Showcasing golf should and does give tourism a huge boost so is it too much to ask that some of our tax money could be spent promoting it?
Ian McNair,
James Street, Cellardyke, Fife.
AS I try in vain not to be bombarded by football in the media three words come to mind: Alcohol – a great supporter of football. Gambling – constant adverts encouraging gambling before, during and after matches. Obscene – paying young men vast amounts of money to kick a ball. Yes, a sport really that is really good for society.
B McKenna,
Overtoun Avenue, Dumbarton.
LIKE Alan Fitzpatrick (Letters, July 11) I have been supporting England at the World Cup but unlike him, I have no problem with the use of the National Anthem since it is the British National Anthem and hence the anthem of England, Scotland and Northern Ireland. Wales is the exception since it was created a principality under the English crown and that status remained under the United Kingdom.
I remember being at Scotland v England matches at Hampden after the war when THE national anthem was played before games. I do not know when this stopped and Scotland used Flower of Scotland but at Commonwealth Games, each home country uses its own song, not anthem; but at the Olympics, all winners accept the National Anthem.
Remembrance Sunday and Armistice share the same day this year and at all cenotaphs and in churches the National Anthem will be played.
I wish the BBC would remember that the first B stands for British and not refer to "we" but to England and secondly I wish Scotland was the team that have been doing so well and wonder what our celebrations would be like and for how long we would talk about it,
Richard A McKenzie,
5 Dalmeny Avenue, Giffnock.
IF on publication in Thursday's Herald, England have qualified for the World Cup Final then they should be congratulated. However, no doubt there will be near hysteria and the use of the words "heroes" or 'heroic effort' or similar will appear in the media. This week has seen the culmination of one of the most heroic team efforts many of us will ever witness ("All 12 Thai boys and their coach are rescued from cave in dramatic mission", The Herald, July 11). As is so often the case it was undertaken by those who prefer to keep a low profile. Many volunteered their services and in doing so put their lives on the line. What a contrast to the pampered "heroes" appearing in football jerseys.
Robert Gemmell,
14 Bramble Wynd, Port Glasgow.
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