Note from Dai – Tom who wrote this, is a very good friend of mine. He’s a great guy. Very rude and very funny. I hope this blog is taken in the light hearted way it is intended!
Couple of disclaimers. First, my English teacher always told me my writing would never improve unless I broadened my reading horizons away from sports magazines. I didn’t and twenty-five years later I begrudgingly must accept she was correct. Secondly, the below are the (thankfully short) ramblings of a petty and bitter man (that’s me) who happens not to come from Wales (or England). So apologies for not only the quality but also the borderline animosity of the next five hundred or so words.
Embed from Getty ImagesIt gets asked to Scots on a regular basis but ‘why do I not want England to succeed?’ Well none of this is particularly insightful or new but, amongst many things it’s the commentators, it’s 1966, it’s the players and managers. A sometimes completely irrational dislike based purely on the laundry they are wearing on particularly days of the week. It’s the dreadful national anthem, it’s Football’s Coming Home, it’s the accents on the news reports (although we’re now getting into xenophobia on my part). I’m not even getting into the political differences so let’s just say it’s pretty much f’ing everything.
Embed from Getty ImagesAnd all those specific examples are to some extent true and reasonable I think. But none of them apply to Wales. And Wales are at least top four in the list of teams I don’t want to do well in this world cup (and they might be in the top two).
Part of this dislike is having the misfortune of being friends with one of the co-founders of this site (the really f’ing boring guy on each of the podcasts). And having to put up with his questions on how Scotland’s preparations for the world cup are going. Along with hearing Waka Waka We’re Going To Qatar every time I’ve seen him since June. But that wasn’t the case in 2016. And I absolutely wanted Belgium to win that quarter final.
Embed from Getty ImagesThere are other reasons. It’s because you say you don’t like the English but half of you sound like you’re from there, it’s the bucket hats (not the f’ing 90s anymore you losers), it’s those cringey hype videos and Michael Sheen speeches. It’s the Don’t Take Me Home chant, although I guess it’s not your fault other supporters have appropriated it into scenarios that don’t make sense. And I get the impression a lot of Welsh people who are from middle to upper class backgrounds like to pretend they are the salt of the earth and try to justify this by throwing in references to coal mines or the valleys into conversation.
Embed from Getty ImagesThere’s jealousy too I guess. Land Of Our Fathers is a great national anthem and you did have a member of the Velvet Underground from Carmarthenshire (even if their best album was the first one after Cale left). Wales are also at the World Cup. Although it’s a wee shame that for most of you your first – and hopefully last one for another sixty-four years – is in Qatar.
Enjoy the tournament and all the immoral implications of it folks. But that unfortunately isn’t another reason for me to dislike the Welsh national team, their annoying supporters or anyone else… pathetically I’ll also be changing nothing despite considering the troublesome elements and will be immersing myself in the World Cup as usual.
Embed from Getty ImagesThe reality of this nonsense I’m spouting, is that this is all about sporting rivalry. I don’t want or need you to support Scotland if we ever qualify again. Far from it. So I won’t be doing the same. Pob lwc.
Note from Ruth: Tom needn’t worry about any support for a Scottish football team from this Cymraes ….. and may be I shouldn’t have been left to sort out the photos for this one 😉