Friday, June 02, 2006
With St George in my heart
Its just a week until the World Cup kicks off in Germany and I can't wait. Before then, we have one last friendly in Manchester against Jamaica tomorrow. Gary Neville has a slight hamsting strain so he may not play but it'll be the opportunity for us to give the team a send-off.
A feature of any England game is the number of flags on display. It's usually quite a battle (not literally) to get your flag in prime position. At tournaments, people are there 3 hours before the game and as soon as the gates open they run (yes, run) into the stands to put their flags up. I've done it before but now I'd sooner spend more time in the pub.
The issue of flag flying is starting to cause discussion in the UK. A number of companies, councils and other assorted do-gooders have been banning people from flying flags. Here are the ones I've found reported in the press recently:
- Tesco banned delivery drivers from displaying flags in their games (despite selling flags in their store) - the ban has since been over-turned
- Hampshire police have warned drivers that they could face assault charges if a flag flies off and hits a pedestrian (remember these a polyester flags)
- Cheltenham Council have banned taxi drivers from flying flags from their vehicles
- Construction workers at Heathrow terminal 5
- Birches Head High School in Stoke on Trent have banned pupils from wearing badges or carrying flags during the world cup (since overturned)
- Cable TV suppliers NTL have banned their drivers from having flags on their vehicles
- Taxi drivers in Blackpool have been banned from wearing England shirts
- Firemen in Barking have been banned from flying the flag from their station
Now it seems the football authorities are getting in on the act. A number of people at Old Trafford for the Hungary match were told to remove their flags from sponsorship boards. WHY !!!!!! It's our game, our flags and our stadium. Hopefully, good sense will prevail at tomorrows game.
// posted by Explorer Traveller @ 5:04 AM 
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Interesting post. I personally think people are being too reactionary over flags. I mean, who cares?
I myself will be sporting the England flag on my nails during the tournament. :)
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I myself will be sporting the England flag on my nails during the tournament. :)
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