Time for England fans to unite behind team

A lot of the English population will show little to no interest in this year’s World Cup. The reason is that they think too many key decisions about our national side are made in the capital.

There’s nothing wrong with that in my opinion but some people don’t agree with me on this issue (what’s new eh?). At times there seems to be a divide between Southern and Northern fans.

Stadium

Before the new Wembley was built there were discussions over whether the ground should be based in another part of the country. Yet the powers that be thought there was too much history and tradition on the old Wembley site.

Many people mostly from Northern England complained that the national side’s stadium should be in Birmingham. Why should it be in England’s second city rather than the capital city? I am a Northerner and to be honest I prefer the tradition of Wembley being where it is.

Squad

England’s potential World Cup squad is full of players born in London or the surrounding areas. Rio Ferdinand, John Terry, David James, Joe Cole, and Frank Lampard to name just a few London born players in the England squad will probably prove key players for England this summer.

However the most vital player for England in South Africa is as Northern as you can get. Born and raised in Liverpool, then moving to Manchester at 18. Wayne Rooney is playing out of his skin at the moment and if England loses him then we will struggle to make any impact at the tournament.

Wayne has even started to keep his temper under control in recent years. Maybe this could be the year he inspires England to glory. I bet most Scousers would find it hard not to raise a smile for the fact that England’s most important player is one of their own.

Then there is another Northern icon Liverpool’s Steven Gerrard. He hasn’t been at the top of his game this season but he can still produce moments of magic and drive the team forward. Liverpool’s one-man team of the past is close friends with the aforementioned Rooney and they combine superbly on the pitch.

These two players should be held up as an example of why every Englishman should be getting behind our national side. It’s not about being Scouse, Cockney, Mancunian or Brummie, it’s about being English and supporting OUR country.

United

When the England squads meet up they seem very united but like in any walk of life there are bound to be cliques. However the team can overcome these cliques and form a united front. The fans from all over the country should be able to do that as well.

Loyalties

It’s strange how club loyalties go out of the window when the national side play. People who booed and jeered players from their rival’s teams suddenly support those players, because it’s about national pride. Yet there is still that old fashioned North-South divide within the fans.

Proud

A lot of other countries show more patriotism. In England we are often tripped over by being too politically correct. We have even been told at times that we are not supposed to display England flags, because it might offend people who were not born in England. This is PC gone mad.

I can’t imagine this happening in any other country. Its time as a country we forget about all PC, fly our flags and cheer the boys on to glory in South Africa next summer. It’s not a crime to be proud of being English and June is the time to prove it.