1966 and all that

Me thinks Dr AJ Ashworth doth protest too much in his objection to the production of an Anyone But England (ABE) T-shirt for the World Cup (Letters, 26 February). As one who was brought up in England, but has lived in Scotland for more than 30 years, I support England at football and Scotland at everything else. However, in all that time I have never experienced the abuse to which Dr Ashworth refers.

I have certainly come across a lot of ABE sentiment and can ascribe it to a single cause. It's nothing to do with racism (illogical as we belong to the same race), but is due entirely to the Motson factor. How long into a match before a commentator mentions 1966? English-based TV pundits and tabloid editors vie with each other to work out who England will beat in the final, even before the first ball is kicked.

I doubt if giving ABE T-shirts the red card would remove the problem. It would more likely turn harmless fun into a feeling of deeper resentment. I think a more constructive approach would be to employ objective commentators who were a bit more aware that they are broadcasting to more than one country.

IAN BAXTER

Broomieknowe Gardens

Bonnyrigg

The experiences of Dr AJ Ashworth (Letters, 26 February) should make uncomfortable reading for all Scots. Personally, I feel ashamed.

Scotland's real shame, which almost everyone wants to either ignore, deny or dismiss as banter, is that being anti-English is an accepted national pastime. If a doctor having to suffer abuse from his patients simply because he is English is not something we should be ashamed of, then there is no hope for us.

Having grown up in a small coastal village, when "incomers" were still a novelty, I can remember seeing letters "IHTFEB" on the T-shirt of a local SNP stalwart. You would have hoped things had moved forward since then.

LAWRENCE FRASER

Maine Road

Elgin