We live in ENGLAND for fuck's sake.

Ok, this is a weird one for me. Understand folks I'm a part Irish misfit who often speaks ill of the country and county he's grown up in because he thinks it's an utter crap hole and would dearly love to emigrate if he could stand being more than ten miles away from family.

But anyway, be that as it may for all it's failings this country used to pride itself on the great freedoms it's people had. Freedom of speech, expression etc, but these days I swear we're living in a watered down version of a dictatorial state, (I'll let you decide which one fits us best)

Now I will admit, here and now when it comes to football I'm more of a fair weather fan. It's far cheaper to sit on the sofa with some booze than it is to traipse up to White Hart Lane for instance, and I bet these days in the uber state of health and safety you can't buy a beer any more for fear of getting a bit boisterous and attracting the unwelcome attentions of the stewards.

The national teams even more so for the most part. I blame a lot of this on the hype of the media claiming we've a divine right to the World Cup and Euro trophies at least once per golden generation we spawn from this ill gotten and dank isle.

What I'm trying to say here is, in spite of my own apathy to things I do at least recognise the right of the fans in this country to root for whatever team they fancy and deck their cars and house windows with the relevant flags and banners.

So why is it, we in England can't put up the Flag of St George any more without attracting a bunch of ne'er-do-wells with too much fucking time on their hands claiming we're racist for supporting our national team?

No one tells the Irish that they're being a bunch of racist bigots when they break out the green, white and orange bunting when St Paddy's day rolls around, or the Scots when they knock off of work for the day for St Andrew.

It's not racist to make a personal show of support for the nation you were fucking born in. It's called Patriotism. Those who don't like the fact the natives like to show some pride in their run down shit hole of a country once in a while when a big occasion comes rolling around can get the fuck out for all I care.

Yes we are a welcoming and friendly lot (Nick Griffin and his hopefully dwindling band of cunts aside) but don't expect us to change who we are just because you don't like it. Live and let live or fuck off.