I am in full agreement with you over the scum, Ard Mhacha. It seems however to have overflowed into our town centres as well so I am not fully convinced that football scum is the right term. Just scum would usualy more than suffice.

I work in view of Old Trafford - Just across the bridge in Salford Quays. The number of times I see hoardes of ignorant selfish young men creating fear and havoc in these parts is beyound belief. Sad thing is that it seems to be accepted behavior by some. "Oh, it's just high spirits" and "Football fans are very passionate about the game" is heard over and over. OK - These idiots are not vandalising. They are not fighting. They are not rioting. What they do though is take up the whole pavement and are completely oblivious, or uncaring, to the old man on a zimmer frame or the young mother with a pram who is forced to walk in the road. What they do is stop at the side of the nearest building and urinate, in full view of the policeman on his horse. What they do is barge into the local bars and by pure strength of numbers they push and intimidate the locals outside to make room for their loud and often foul mouthed chants of 'support'.

If you haven't gathered I am quite passionate about this. As I said earlier the trouble is it is no longer confined to the terraces and outside the grounds. Visit Manchester city centre any night after about 9pm - Particulary Friday and Saturday and you will see the same loutish behavior. The only difference is that they yobs are not wearing tribal colours but tribal designer outfits. And they are not just men, the women are equaly loutish.

The solution? Dunno. Off the top of my head. Zero tolerance? Curfew with serious tagging of offenders? Electric cattle prods? Hopefuly something will be done before long anyway.

Cheers

DtG