I want to take the opportunity to have a rant. This is a real pet peeve of mine, I really hate it. It's like nails on a blackboard to me.

As you know world cup time is upon us, and us English will get extremely patriotic as usual. I have noticed in the past few days more and more St. George's cross flags have been popping up outside of people houses and in their cars etc. What's wrong with that Highwaystar? I hear you ask. Nothing, if it were truly our flag. I have am problem with this monstrosity...

...Don't get me wrong, I am very proud to be English and I think it's a great symbol of patriotism to fly your nations flag, and trust me, I will be flying the St. George's cross with pride during the world cup... But that is not my nations flag. This is...

See? It's not got England written across it. This is the flag of my country, why does it need to be defaced with the word "England" written across it? Why is it necessary?

Now I know that I can leave this, and you're probably thinking "why do you find this such a big deal?". Well, I would be fine if say 25%< had England written across them, I can ignore them at that level, but it's not. I would say that well over 50% of the St. George's cross flags that I've seen lately have had England written across them.

I hate these flags with writing on them, it really irritates me. And I rarely see other countries doing it.

And while we're at it, why do people insist on pronouncing it "Eng-er-land"?, we're not Engerland, we're England.

/Rant... *Waits for storm*.

......I didn't even know the second one was the English flag.

it's also a very dumb thing to do, I mean, who doesnt know what the England flag is? surely everyone (especially IN ENGLAND) see's the England flag and IMMEDIATLEY knows it's the England Flag!

it would be like putting a big sticker saying "Bannana" on a bannana...what kind of moron can tell a bannana when they see one?

Huh? What people? I never heard anyone pronounce it like that.

Mainly football fans. especially in football chants. it's the mystery middle sylable in the middle of the word.

"Eng-er-land, Eng-er-land, La la!"

My nation's flag is this one since I'm from London, my father's scottish and my family originally comes from Norther Ireland, i don't see the boundaries like some people do.

Too many people. I know a fair few English people who pronounce it Engerland. Most of them add the extra syllable because it fits in better with chants. But I do not see that as a valid excuse to add an extra syllable at all.

@ Scruff - I agree, I consider my flag to be the Union flag over the St. George's cross. This thread is football related though, where my team is England, not the UK, hence why I'm using the St. George's cross as my flag for this thread.

I agree so much with this thread.

The Union Jack is a little unfair to the Welsh. Where's the dragon?

On a more relevant topic, I just bought one today, and I was rather annoyed to see "ENGLAND" in the centre. The lions in the corners I can somewhat understand, but I know what my country's flag is >_>

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0T1pXsJp_go

I think this song may have something to do with it, as it was for the world cup


and the third syllable Vin-da-loo - Eng-er-land they must have just said it to get it to fit the song and maybe its stuck in chants ever since

and i do agree with kantor, the welsh did get left out in that deal

When Scotland joined Great Britain hundreds of years ago (1500s?), Wales was already a part of the country - Wales, England and Ireland were all part of GB. When Scotland joined, the Union Jack was made to represent Britain and Scotland's union - so no need for a Welsh representation on the flag, they'd already joined.