England's heroic 'hooligans'
From Thomas Oliver Elmes Sir: There is much debate about the English football louts and the disgrace they bring to our country (England's thugs and losers', 12 June). They are vilified as tribal hooligans bringing shame to these islands. But these very same tribal hooligans were the bowmen of England at Agincourt, the brave soldiers in Wellington's army defeating Napoleon in Spain and the rest of Europe, who forefronted the Empire, who died on the beaches of Normandy, who are at present renowned for the peacekeeping in the Balkans.
These tribal hooligans are the very spirit of this once and still potentially great nation. Do not vilify them. Respect them. They are us, as we are them. If it wasn't for these tribal hooligans, we would not be free on our island. They are our very essence.
Thomas Oliver Elmes
London SW6
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