From: "Andy" <as-AT-spelthorne.ac.uk>
Date: Mon, 15 Feb 1999 14:50:34 +0000
Subject: Re: lingua franca/football


> From:          "Dave Coull" <d.y.coull-AT-dundee.ac.uk>

> Unlike other, more middle class sports, football was
> originally a working class game, so there was never
> the slightest suggestion that there could be such
> a thing as a "British" team. The rivalry was just too
> intense. The very first international football match ever 
> was between Scotland and England. These two teams 
> are therefore the oldest "national" sides there are. 
> The entire structure of international football is simply 
> what has been "added on" to the founder members. 


Sorry - I was having a puerile nationalistic  dig.[ In an earlier 
life I was a redcoat and now I seem to have come back as a teacher, 
so in terms of holding back the hordes in both lives, I guess in 
Hoddlesque reincarnation theory I have been pretty consistent, 
although clearly less authoritarian this time round. ]

So I know this really, as an ardent Chelsea [but can't afford it now 
they actually win things, so now it's off to Brentford for live 
matches who lately wouldn't give Cowdenbeath a run for their money ] 
supporter. Doesn't Lorraine Kelly of GMTV support Dundee? I have an 
ex-pat Celtic supporter in my Sociology class - what's the news on 
Fergus McCann and Jim'n'Kenny's putative buy-out? It doesn't reach 
our papers.

Anyway I reckon the moves afoot by the likes of Sepp Blatter will 
stuff the local rivalry and merge us into one within our lifetime. 
And it looks like you lot have a far better chance of getting to Euro 
2000.

Q            What's the difference between Buckingham Palace and the 
White House? 

A              At Buckingham Palace, you only kneel on one knee. 

What can this mean?


>as