I'm the first to admit that I'm no huge football fan, though even I put myself through the ordeal of watching England when they play in the World Cup. Indeed, I will tune in tonight when they take on Algeria, but one thing I really wish is this: that people would stop decorating their houses and cars with the St. George's Cross - that's the England flag to the more ignorant among you.

Call me unpatriotic if you like, but the sight of a council house with an England flag hanging from every window and door is a depressing sight. Not only does it look common but it reminds me of the supporters of far-right politics who adorn themselves with the symbol at every opportunity.

A couple of weeks ago, I looked out of an upstairs window and noticed a neighbour digging a hole in his back garden. His garden is separated from the main road by a fence and this pest of a man has been known in the past to light bonfires and barbeques at all times of the day and night. There have been occasions when the acrid, foul-smelling smoke has drifted over the fence into the road and caused motorists to slow down as a precaution; that's how thick it's been. Almost as thick as my neighbour, in fact.

As I watched him digging, I noticed something long and thin propped up against the fence. You guessed it, it turned out to be a full-sized flag pole and within an hour he had secured it in the ground and hoisted the flag to the top. I half expected him to salute it but I guess even he is not that crass.

So, every time I look out of the window, I see the England flag flapping in the wind. As if that isn't bad enough, cars toot it as they go by as a sort of 'tribute'. The majority of drivers who sound their horns have invariably decorated their vehicles with flags too. No matter where I walk, I see these little emblems by the side of the road as a direct result of them being blown off in the wind as the disillusioned 'patriots' speed down the fast lane while their tiny minds conjure up visions of the England team bringing the World Cup home to Blighty. I feel sorry for the roadsweepers who have to go picking these things up and I daresay they now hate the England flag as much as I do.

The trouble is, our England football team members simply aren't very good at what they do. As a rule, they do well for the first few minutes or so but quickly revert to their old ways. It's almost like they are frightened to go forward and attack, preferring instead to play pass the parcel - or in this case, the football - instead of getting stuck in. That's why it annoys me so much that people show such admirable support for this mediocre bunch of overpaid 'superstars'.

In short, our England team doesn't deserve the support offered up by the great English public. So for pity's sake, if England loses tonight, do me and your neighbours a favour and put the flags away for good.