England Supporters in Scotland

[Drisgirl]

I have just heard on the new of 2 instances where the people,a child was involved, who were in Scotland,were either beaten or abused.
Now we all know that there is a friendly banter (generally) between the Scots and the English.
I just want folk to know that I am appalled by this and feel physically sick.Those thugs would have beaten anyone up last night because we also have a Yob culture who look for any excuse to cause havoc.They seem to breed everywhere and we ar not unique.

I am sure I speak for all Scots in saying that we are ashamed of their behaviour and we welcome anyone to our country. I hope the victims will be OK.

[admarlow]

Scotland shouldnt even have a ''national side'' as they are not a nation!!!!!! what next, the Cornish ''national'' side?? I suppose none or the Scottish player would get into the British team ha ha ha

[Drisgirl]

P!ss off - you Ar$e.This was a genuine observation and I sincerely thought twice about posting it.Now I wish I hadnt.I just knew there would be idiots like you having a go at Scotland.You skiving off the school - cos if you are get back and broaden your eduaction mate!
Youre not smart and you certainly aint clever pal.

Now I would welcome reasonable responses to my very genuine post - sorry about above but that attitude is immature considering one of the victims was a disabled man who was dragged from his car and beaten!

[unruliejulie]

Hi Drisgirl, I haven't actually seen this story but i love football but this is a side of the game i abhor. How on earth is it connected to the game anyway? Friendly banter is one thing but violence and involving a child as well is disgusting and has no place in the name of football. Unfortunately things like this don't surprise me as there are always some complete lunatics who go way too far. Lets hope they lock em up.Personally, i love Scotland and the Scots!

[annavc]

Hi drisgirl. I saw this story, it really is appalling. One was a disabled man and the other was 7 year old boy, punched in the head by a man described as being between 24 and 34. It makes me sick. I've always hated football and everything to do with it and I'm afraid this sort of thing just confirms my opinions, even though I know it is a tiny minority that actually behaves like this.

The fact that the perpertrators were Scottish and it was aimed at English fans is, I think, irrelevant. It could just have easily been the other way round or for that matter Trinidad fans beating up Italian fans for example. Football, which lets face it is only a game, seems to breed thugs with no morals and no intellect.

As for the whole Scotland/nation thing - ignore idiots like admarlow. I'm half english, quarter scottish and quarter irish, i was born in Scotland but have lived in England since I was 11 and as far as I'm concerned I'm British. I respect Scotland as an individual nation and as a valuable part of the UK, just as I respect England, Wales and N. Ireland in the same way. People like him just need to get back to school as you said!!

Have a good day :-)

[Drisgirl]

Thank you Julie. for your response.I am glad you realised my point - which was - we all have hooligans who at the drop of a hat would have an excuse to cause trouble.

I am ashamed - and I dont want people to think that behaviour is representative of Scotland.I know violence shouldnt ever breed violence - but knowing Scottish people - they police themselves and you can take from that what you like.We do have high moral values regarding a lot of things.What happened was sickening!

[unruliejulie]

I don't think anyone in their right mind would associate this purely with the fact that they were Scottish. It could just have easily happened over here. They are just mindless thugs and use football as an excuse for violence. I hate "football" hooligans with a passion because i don't think they have a love of the game at all, just a hatred for any other nation. It always makes me laugh how one minute they hate each other cause they're from a different Town or City in the UK and the next, they're all together, united as one, as England fans. I would be cheering on the Scottish team if they were there because to me we are all one big Island. Will never understand that!

[Drisgirl]

anna - Sorry got a phone call before I could respond.Thank you for your support - the intial reply compounded my fears of the slating we would get.
It is truly apalling and we get this in a small way everyday - and it is Nationwide.I am just so sorry it was fools from my country and it has made headlines.They will - I can guarantee - nothing to do with me- get their comeuppance from the bigger boys.
We abhor and despise this happening in our country.
We have a bit of banter with English folk on holiday and it is a laugh and we end up pals -its actually more entertaining than the foootie at times:)

[annavc]

Hi drisgirl. Totally agree, I'm embarrased by it too, just as I am whenever English "fans" go nuts overseas - it makes me ashamed to be British. Hopefully these two particular thugs will get their comeuppance one way or another.

I've always hated football although I have to say that the 20 plus years I've had of my best friend (a lifelong Aberdeen supporter) trying to get me interest has been entertaining! She's still trying!

[Drisgirl]

I love football with a passion - but I have witnessed the running city centre battles once too many to actually go to a gameCould guess who your pal is who supports Aberdeen.........theres only one so I win!!!!!

Seriously -my dad took me to St Johnstone matches (no comments - at least we are the only team with a J in their name-LOL) until we played Rangers.Time when you swapped ends at half time - but we didnt-they were filthy and I havent gone back to a match since.

[ianess]

I often wonder about these idiots who bring the whole of what used to be Great Britain into disrepute with their outrageous hooligan behaviour and thuggery.
No matter which of the Home nations we belong to we all travel under a BRITISH passport and should all be tolerant of our different cultures and beliefs.
I too have stopped attending football matches because of the loutish behaviour of a few who would be locked away if they behaved in the same fashion in the local High Street, but they are allowed to get away with it in a football ground.
There is in my opinion far too much media hype about football almost as if nothing is more important on the planet other of course than Big Brother or Eastenders......all of which seems to promote idiotic behaviour.
Must say that I agree 100% with your comments about admarlow and that it's about time that we all learned to be more tolerant.
Even to St Johnstone supporters!!

[Pippa68]

This absolutely beggars belief, and as has been said, could have happened anywhere ~ even if football wasn't involved!

I have often said that I am very proud to be British..but not always so proud to be English. I was born here, but like a lot of English people (if not most) I have a mixture of blood..Welsh, Scottish, Norwegian to name but a few ;o)

There's always going to be idiots ~ we just have to do our best & what we we feel is right.

[Tweed]

One of the attackers had on a Rangers top. Says it all.

[dayoff]

scotland is not anti english this is the press making a mountin out of a mole hill there are many english living in scotland who love the place more than some scots ie the wife and son and law

[Drisgirl]

Tweed - for as much as I appreciate your reply - the fact they had on a Rangers top beggars belief - cos they supporrt England.Not that you would know the ins and outs of the sectarian divide!!

[Lonnie]

Hi Disgirl, I read this article, haven't reag all the replies though.
My opinion, is that Anti-English feelings in Scotland, have been getting progressively worse since devolution, for which you can only blame the so called British Goverment in Whitehall, for which Scottish MPs can, and do, vote on pureley English matters, but not vice-versa.
However, to get back to your question, you have people like Andre Murray, the tennis player, who says he will support whichever team opposes England.
I'd really like someone from Scotland who holds these views, to come on, and explain it.

[stupidoven]

evening Drisgirl,

thank you raising this subject, i saw the news at lunchtime and hoped someone would take this on before i got home.

i know i don't have the same eloquence as many of the answerbanks viewers but I'll have a crack. firstly anyone who doesn't think Scotland is a nation has never been there, i was lucky enough to live there a while back and just thinking of the place and people makes me happier than i've any right to be.

i wouldn't think of blaming Scotland or football for these individuals, i think it's safe to assume they'd be doing something equally thuggish no matter where they were or what was happening around them.

this is the point where i struggle to get the idea in my head out through the keyboard:

i don't care about the "anyone but England" stuff and recognise it as banter but i worry that in their own warped world they could take it all seriously and it could reinforce misguided opinions already held and make them think their behaviour is almost acceptable.

I've just read over the last paragraph and i know i haven't said what i wanted to say but i throw it into the ring and maybe some one else can have a go.

[unruliejulie]

stupidoven, i think you have put that perfectly!

[Drisgirl]

Lonnie -thanks for your opinion

I can assure you ther is NO anti E glish feeling in scotland apart from the usual banter - like we dont want you to win the World Cup.I dont want you to win - just cios I couldbt bear another forty years - if Im spared of 2006:)Thats all.

I have gawd knows how many aunties and uncles and cousins in England.Its just pure banter.
Andy is like us all - do you not see the smirks on our face when we say it.We dont want it but its not crucial to our lives.

Anyway - thats getting away from the subject-we abhor violence -BIG - difference to whom we chose to support.

[noxlumos]

Hello Dris, well I'm not English as you know, but I do know many Scots people and have found them to be welcoming to my family ( my wife is English) and to hold no genuine grudge against any other nation. You get yobs all over the place of all nationalities who don't know how to behave, just look at admarlow:)

[THECORBYLOON]

Lonnie, the English have been banging on and on about 1966 and the World cup for 40 years so is it any wonder we don't want them to win it again?

Why should we support a foreign team anyway? Do you honestly believe the French and the Belgians or the Spanish and the Portuguese would support each other if their own country were not in a major competition?