This has been on my mind with the Euros and apparently some people from liverpool not supporting the national team as they don’t consider themselves English.
How far back does this actually go – the phrase itself and the underlying sentiment? Is it a 21st century phenomenon? Or would the four Beatles growing up around Liverpool have been aware of this phrase/outlook?
Interested to hear from anyone from the area itself.
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Liverpool is historically a port city that looked outwards rather than inwards. You also had large Irish immigration. Then there was Thatcher government, which was deeply unpopular in Liverpool. Then there was the police and Hillsborough.
I think it’s just a sentiment that’s built up over generations. I grew up there and a lot of people didn’t support England football team.
Deluded scousers thinking they’re special. That’s about it.
For a while, since the 1980s at least.
Understandable, since the government then actually said Liverpool should be under a “managed decline”.
Same as Scots saying Scottish not British. Just a general hatred of the the English, particularly the ruling class.
Just another edgelord internet meme, no real “meaning” as such.
Every place around the UK I’ve ever been to has the same pride about the local area they live in.
Liverpool just has that added arrogance and stupidity to mouth it off at every opportunity.
Scouse is a stew from Liverpool
Scousers are proud of where they come from. They’ve had a lot of shit thrown at them through the years as well.
When it comes to football though a lot of scousers have played for England, lined up for the national anthem etc. I think most people if they were good enough to play for England would do the same.
Liverpool, like Glasgow and East End of London, being port cities were cultural melting pots. Others have talked about huge Irish and Welsh heritage. Also Scottish. I’ve lived in London for 35 years, but still consider myself Scouse, and not English. In the late ’80’s, I was asked when I started uni in London why I was doing a degree in English when I couldn’t even speak English properly. There are some proper d*ckheads out there. My niece is now having the same experience at Durham 35 years later. The city has had the shit kicked out of it and a there is such a lot of hostility towards us. No wonder we’re liable to say we’re Scouse first and foremost (confirmed by attitude of other posters here)