I have been fuming ever since I read Adam Trimingham's article condemning hooliganism (The Argus, June 16).

I, too, deplore soccer violence and alcohol-fuelled yobbism but his article degenerated into a rant aimed at making anyone who dares enjoy Euro 2004 and feel any patriotism feel guilty and ashamed. This is intellectual snobbery of the worst kind.

Most of us are quietly proud of our country but occasionally we all come together to make a bit more noise about it. Euro 2004, with its flags that Mr Trimingham hates so much, is a pretty good reason to do so.

He had a rant about Beckham. The media and the public made Beckham what he is.

They wanted a hero, made him into one and then enjoyed that very English tradition of slapping him down. That's the sort of behaviour that makes me ashamed to be English.

So Beckham has made mistakes. Sport is seen as it happens and, if any sportsman makes a mistake, it's seen by millions. Mr Trimingham can erase his mistakes with the nearest wastepaper bin or spellcheck on his computer.

So Beckham can't speak four languages like Thierry Henry (I for one don't know many people who can but then obviously I don't move in the same circles as Mr Trimingham).

So what - he's a footballer, not a diplomat? Clearly, if Mr Trimingham has his way, no one will play for England unless they have a university degree. And if they can play football, that's a bonus.

Yes, football has been "tainted by slobbery and yobbery".

So let's get rid of that, not taint it further with the likes of Mr Trimingham's snobbery.

-Stuart Still, Newhaven