Anyone But England?

Austin Barry

One does feel sorry for the Scots. They once had excellent international teams and almost world class players. Now we'd all be hard put to identify any Scottish player who would, but for nationality, be able to make the bench in the England squad.
Possibly United's Fletcher, but that's it.

But we English are no better. I didn't meet anyone who didn't want the charming Federer to beat the surly Murray in the Australian Open.

Sir Graphus

I lived in Aberdeen for 3 years in the mid-90s, and the ABE feeling was very strong indeed. Englishmen would be beaten up in pubs after the Calcutta Cup. I recall someone being killed after England’s lucky win against Spain in Euro-96, and the rejoicing when England lost vs Germany was on a par with what you’d expect if Scotland had won the tournament. I’m v pleased to hear that the ill feeling has subsided, though it could be that James Hamilton live in a different Scottish town. Still, I think the Rozzers should stay out of this particular thought crime. If the average Jock doesn't want England to win, then he's entitled to that opinion, and to express it.

John Lea

Austin Barry: I'm Scottish and I didn't want Murray to win either. He's a whinger, anti-English, and personifies the (false) stereoptype of the dour Scot.

As has been said, most of the ABE animus is directed not against the English people, but against the English media, who do tend to become annoyingly arrogant during these tournaments. Having said that, whenever I see my fellow countrymen, assembled around a TV screen, cheering on England's opponents, I just cringe.

Kittler

Perhaps the real story here, was the police one.
Last month, a headline in the local press was "Shock Verdict on Police in Grampian" after a poll suggested that most folk had "little faith" in the Grampian Police Farce.
Good to see action to amend, suggest also, diversity awareness initiatives, to protect the sensitivities of immigrant English.

Tiberius

Someone should tell Alex Salmond that Scotland will only be a mature place when it consigns the SNP to the fringes of British politics.

And while I certainly do not wish to speak ill of the dead, could you not find, Alex, a clip of Jeff Astle's miss against Brazil in 1974 (just to annoy that lot down the road known as West Brom, not to mention Frank Skinner and Adrian Chiles.)

Tiberius

1970!

Stephen Gash

I'm afraid Scotland has become nothing more than a gob wearing a kilt.

Or should that be a kilt wearing a gob?

The sandpaper of devolution has rubbed the gilt of "friendly banter" from the phoney Union sovereign and exposed the basemetal of Anglophobic bigotry.

Let's put an end to this Union charade once and for all.

donpatrico

and where can one buy teofilo cubillas t-shirts?

Sir Graphus

Having been rude about Aberdonians earlier, and seen the way some of the comments are going, I feel the need to be highly complimentary about Edinburgh, one of my 2 or 3 favourite cities in the whole wide world. It’s a friendly city. Probably John Lea (above) lives there. Furthermore, dour and mumbling though he is, I admire Andy Murray’s fighting brand of tennis and wish him every success; the lad’s come a long way since he made an ABE joke as an 18 yr old.

Dirty Euro

I do not support England. Why should I?
England are our derby rivals.
How many Spurs fans want Arsenal to win the league? It is just like Man Utd fans wanting Man City to lose.
But I also think someone who beats up Englishmen is evil, pure evil end of story.

Also I have some mercy the English sides. I do not like seeing them lose to heavily, to or too totally rubbish teams I have no interest in. But I do not like seeing them win.
It is just the same as Liverpool v Everton.
I supported Tim Henman. And oddly most English people hated him as he was too "middle class".
What is better hating Andy Murray out of nationalistic banter or hating him because you don't like the guy when you have never even met him.
I prefer the nationalistic banter guy.

oldasiahand

There are also some englishmen who detest everything about football and will be very happy if Algeria or Nigeria beats them in the group stage. the US, after their disgraceful performance on the Falklands issue, is another matter.

James

Really good article, very interesting - the bit about not taking the ABE bit too seriously described things very well.

I'm pleased to hear that it sounds as if serious ABE has declined - I am English and have been on the end of that a couple of times which is not pleasant - it had the unfortunate (and I realise unfair) side effect of making one associate the word 'Scotland' with humourlous chippy bigots.

I am quite happy to be on the end of light hearted ABE (I don't mind if Scots don't support England, but resent being abused by swivel eyed bigots). However I do hope the Scots will not be too thin skinned if they get some banter in return.

I'm pleased to hear that many scots are ashamed by aggressive, humorless ABE & I would add that I am similarly ashamed when supporters of England behave like nasty bullies (as some of course do).

Fabian the Fabulous

Not all Scots hate England.
But I can think of at least one who does.

Noa Zrk

Yes, we've gone through the challenges of building from nothing and then dismantling, multiple industries, and building and then demolishing, within a dizzying period of 50 years, an empire and a civilisation.
Now we can turn back to tribal pettiness, to small minded behaviour, because all that's left is to dislike our neighbours, whilst really we simply loath and have an ashamed contempt for ourselves and the diminished people we have become.

ABE

tommyt

Its difficult being Scottish.

Broadly speaking I have no wish to support an England football team - ever. I can use the recent kerfuffle about overpaid celebrities who think they are a law unto themselves as a reason, but its really an excuse. As for the rugby team, well Carling and Moore set back anglo scots relations by a generation, why would one support their lillywhite desecendants especailly when Guscott remains a paid for cheerleader .

That said I have travelled thousands of miles supporting the England cricket team and would list David Gower as one of my all time heroes. BUt, hang on, I am a Celtic fan of Irish descent and cheer for most things Irish, including the eurovision song contest entry. However I would rather eat my own vomit than cheer for them at cricket, not just ahead of Scotland but ahead of anyone.

I do not have an anti Canadian molecule in any fibre of my being and was delighted to see them beat the pesky yanks and gerries to the top of the medals table in Vancouver however when it comes to curling I would cheer Iraq to the rafters against the Canucks.

Its not about race, its not about politics, its about sporting rivalry. And without rivalry sport is nothing. And without sport life is nothing.

I will be buying my ABE t-shirt and I might even be stupid enough to wear it in a pub in England.

cello17

Hi i do feel very sorry for the scots who have to resort to such pathetic things like wearing the t shirts ABE it is after all not englands fault that scotland did not qualify for the world cup but the way they go on you would think it is all beacuse of england they did not qualify.In any game football or rugby if england are knocked out we all cheer fot the welsh irish and sots in any international game. I would never cheer for argentina or any other team aagainst any british team.Just grow up and behave like men all the wars in the world are caused by this same hatred and it is about time it stopped.You r3eally are pathetic wear your t shirts if it makes you feel big and although other people may laugh at you they will most probably secretly think how sad you all are

Howard Ryan

If I might paraphrase - Whenever I hear any one mention football I reach for my browning... .. .

shaun the brummie

of course it's only banter,like wise we english could not give a damn about the rapidly falling standard of scottish football,L.O.L. and there is no pleasure in saying no to celtic and rangers,as they beg to join the english football setup,L.M.A.O. i would like to give a big thanks to the scots football clubs for giving me a good laugh when i've been feeling down.me being a birmingham city supporter.

keith law

A musical tribute to the ABE bunch

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JMdvSgJ4fmI

nickstuart

As with most abusive or small minded attempts to insult the ABE says more about the wearers than it does about the target.

Gordon Parkin

I am a proud Scot living, albeit in Cape Town South Africa for the past 12 years. I am an avid Rangers supporter and a a Woad dyed Scot in all other sports. That said, it is a well known fact that the most important piece of any Scottish supporters kit is the calculator as we always have a mathematical chance of going through to the next round. Blue blood and proud of it!

Gerry

I am from Scotland and I live just outside of Edinburgh.
I will admit that I used to be amused by the anti-English sentiments during football tournaments, but having now ended my teenage years I find it somewhat tiresome and indeed pathetic.
I will admit that watching the World Cup with the English media at the helm is at times infuriating as some of the comments made are not only biased but based in fantasy (for example tling about facing Germany in the quarter finals etc. when they've only played one game... and drew it).
However, to say you will be supporting everyone that plays against England is nonsense and it is in fact this attitude from many scots which has turned me against my own "nation".
I personally will not be supporting the teams which England are playing.
And due to this mindset, should Scotland ever qualify for another football tournament it is highly unlikely I'd ever support them either.
Or Ireland since they seem to be the "adopted Scotland".

I am Scottish and I don't want to be anymore. A proportion of the population are making us all look like total idiots.

Alan

It's not the English team that's the problem, it's the media and the commentators. When a commentator keeps blabbing on about 1966 and how England are doing great and their last goal was great and their not even playing in the current match, it gets annoying. They spent a few minutes talking about England instead of commentating on the current game. As for Mars, Sky TV, Sports Direct, etc,etc,etc all waving an English flag in their adverts, why? I would support England against USA, Argentina, Brazil, Spain and 1 or 2 others, but it's difficult to do that when all you get is England rammed down your throat at every opportunity. If this is how it is at the start of the World Cup, would I want them to win?

Shirley

It certainly didn't feel like a joke when my husband and I were flying into Edinburgh on Sunday afternoon with a very hostile group. Each time the score was announced by the cabin crew a large percentage of the passengers cheered - some old enough to know better!! One particular young man who was quite drunk proceeded to walk up and down the aisle holding his beer and trying to incite anyone he could to cheer and jeer. It is just as well there were no similar English lads on board who might have challenged him - it made for a very uncomfortable journey. Sorry but we didn't get the joke on this occasion.

shaun the brummie

i know i'm english but am i missing something,i know we lost to germany,but for the life of me i can't remember who knocked scotland out.