England vs Czech Republic
Posted: March 22nd, 2019, 5:51 pm
Most here will know that i'm a West Ham supporter and some will also know that I spent a good part of my life following the England team around the World, just for the crack of it.
In the olden days, an England game was something to be relished and looked forward to. One of the few games that used to be 'live' back in the 70s and 80s.
Now they're seen as an inconvenience. Very few people have any interest in International games until the Euros or World Cup start in earnest.
So . . . what's the reason for my post?
Well, it seems that a section of England Supporters are going to boo one of our own players tonight. Declan Rice (West Ham), making his debut. And this is because of a tweet he made about the IRA when he was 15.
I appreciate that football fans are 'tribal' and one eyed. But would you really boo an England player who plays for another Premier League team just for something he did years ago as a kid? If so, where does that stop? Can I not cheer a Harry Kane goal for England because my allegiance to West Ham says that I need to hate EVERYTHING about Tottenham all of the time? It's crazy.
I just posted the following message on a West Ham fan site where they were saying that they understand why people will boo the kid tonight . . .
"He was 15 for Christ sake. At that time he identified as 'Irish'. Now he's sworn allegiance to England and you STILL want to crucify him?
If England fans boo Rice tonight, I've had it. I've had it with watching England and cheering on non-West Ham players and I've had it with cheering on English clubs against Johnny Foreigner in the Champions League and Europa League.
Balls to the lot of them, football has become too toxic for me. You don't get this crap in Rugby Union."
HYD
In the olden days, an England game was something to be relished and looked forward to. One of the few games that used to be 'live' back in the 70s and 80s.
Now they're seen as an inconvenience. Very few people have any interest in International games until the Euros or World Cup start in earnest.
So . . . what's the reason for my post?
Well, it seems that a section of England Supporters are going to boo one of our own players tonight. Declan Rice (West Ham), making his debut. And this is because of a tweet he made about the IRA when he was 15.
I appreciate that football fans are 'tribal' and one eyed. But would you really boo an England player who plays for another Premier League team just for something he did years ago as a kid? If so, where does that stop? Can I not cheer a Harry Kane goal for England because my allegiance to West Ham says that I need to hate EVERYTHING about Tottenham all of the time? It's crazy.
I just posted the following message on a West Ham fan site where they were saying that they understand why people will boo the kid tonight . . .
"He was 15 for Christ sake. At that time he identified as 'Irish'. Now he's sworn allegiance to England and you STILL want to crucify him?
If England fans boo Rice tonight, I've had it. I've had it with watching England and cheering on non-West Ham players and I've had it with cheering on English clubs against Johnny Foreigner in the Champions League and Europa League.
Balls to the lot of them, football has become too toxic for me. You don't get this crap in Rugby Union."
HYD