I am sending this message to anyone and everyone, as I feel so strongly about this matter. I get very cross with the continued coverage of the trouble caused by the English at the Euro 2000 championships. Not by the actual coverage given to these bloody hooligans; they should be arrested, they should be deported, and the English authorities should come down very hard on them indeed. (But you watch Blair's government play it soft again.) What really pisses me off is the continued reference made to these idiots being 'English football fans'. Listen everyone - get it right - these mindless cretins are NOT English football fans. I am an English football fan. A member of the official England Members Club, a body set-up by the Football Association to enable all true fans of the England team to enjoy safe and trouble-free support of their team; supporting our own message of 'Football YES, Violence NO'. A fan who buys tickets from the FA, travels using the official transport, and goes to enjoy the atmosphere of a great tournament. Sure, I have a beer or two and sing the National Anthem. But i'll also have a beer with a true football fan of any country, and I will always respect the national anthem of the other country. I have had the pleasure of being at both of England's games so far, and can honestly say I have seen no trouble whatsoever. There has been no trouble inside the grounds - where the true fans are to be found, supporting their team. The trouble has been outside, away from the grounds, where the drunken mindless thugs who turn up on the off-chance of getting a ticket can be found - and then get violent when they can't get a ticket. The organisation of the tournament has been excellent, the locals have been friendly, and the policing has been good. And the true England fans have all been well-behaved, and excellent ambassadors for the team and the country. I don't know what the answer is - it is certainly more of a general English youth trait than an English football supporters trait. After all, after 34 years we finally got to beat the Germans - so why would true fans cause any trouble??!! I am an England football fan - and proud of it. I am not a thug, and neither are any true England fans. Thanks for listening. John Lawrence Peterborough England - ______________________________________________________________ Visit the Total Madness Mailing List website for: latest news, madmeet info, list charter, games, and more ... http://members.xoom.com/totalmadmail/ Contact the TMML Moderators at: [EMAIL PROTECTED] To unsubscribe, send an e-mail to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] and in the message body put: unsubscribe total-madness
