St George's Cross on England football kit sparks debate

Nike has altered the appearance of the St George’s Cross using purple and blue horizontal stripes in what it called a “playful update” to the shirt ahead of Euro 2024.

However, the decision has proven controversial, with both Prime Minister Rishi Sunak and Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer criticising the change.

The Northern Echo received dozens of comments from readers when we asked for opinions on social media ahead of the shirt's first outing in England's friendly against Brazil at Wembley last night.

Several residents voiced their frustration at the change.

Damian Dunphy was unhappy with the question, criticising it as "gammon baiting" and calling it "the most noble of arts".

Some, like Mary-Anne Aitken, proposed a boycott, saying: "Easy answer - don't buy any items with it on, then see what happens."

Others, like Alan Moore, were extremely unhappy. He said: "It's the start of a takeover. What next, change the name of the country?"

A few, like Stuart Findlay, expressed indifference.

He said: "It's a nice colourful version. Don't know what all the fuss is about."

Sam Rushworth made two points.

"Firstly, I'm not a fan of this and prefer the traditional England flag we're all used to," he said.

"Secondly, in terms of problems in the world that need addressing, this is somewhere around a billion to the power of ten."

The St George's Cross detail on the back of the socks of England's Phil Foden during the match against Brazil at Webley on Saturday night (Image: PA)

Ged Whittaker weighed in, saying: "Silly, unwanted, but not anywhere near the top of my list of things to get upset about."

Many commenters focused on the shirt's price rather than the design change.

Rob Wells said: "More newsworthy perhaps is the £125 price tag!!!"

And Anthony Dolphin added: "Who cares? Easy solution Don't buy the bloody thing - £75 a shirt lol."

However, some readers linked the issue to England's Football Association (FA) and its current coach.

Stiv Stephenson said: "Sack Southgate, he must be behind this and has no connection with the English public."

Several comments suggested the controversy was a minor issue compared to other national problems.

Peter Bibby said: "Utter nonsense. It's more reflective of the fragility of some who, really, probably need to spend their time thinking about other things."

An England badge with a St George's Cross on a hat at the Englnd v Brazil friendly match at Wembley Stadium. many fans think this traditional design should not be altered (Image: PA)

Meanwhile, others called the design "disgraceful".

Peter Morgan voiced patriotic concern, saying: "Disgraceful cross and disgraceful shirt price."

One group of readers saw the design alteration as a lack of respect for national identity.

Kim Mckeon said: "Well if you can’t get the England flag right, we will have no identity of being English, disgraceful I think we’re England not Nike."

Football fans at Wembley last night were also divided over the England team’s new shirt.

One supporter attending Saturday evening’s friendly against Brazil said the FA should “burn” the new football shirts.

However, many other supporters said they did not mind the change, with one young fan who was wearing the new kit saying it was “still the same England flag”.

The eight-year-old, from the North East who was wearing the national team’s new shirt, said he did not care about the change to the St George’s Cross.

Speaking outside Wembley Stadium, Sully said he thought the new blue and purple cross on the shirt “looked good”.

Having travelled with his family from Whitley Bay, North Tyneside, to attend the match in London, he said of the controversy: “I don’t really care because it’s still the same England flag.”

But England fan Judith Gibbons, from Huddersfield, said the change in the colour of the flag from red to purple and blue “shouldn’t have been made”.

She said: “I don’t think you should be messing with tradition.”

Ms Gibbons said the shirts “should be taken back” by the FA, adding: “I think they should burn them.”

However, another England fan said she did not understand why people “are so riled up” over the issue.

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Charlotte Prince, 24, said: “It doesn’t affect your life so I don’t understand why people are so riled up about it. I personally just don’t care enough.”

Ms Prince, who is from London, added: “I also saw that they changed the colour of the flag at the 2012 Olympics and no one seemed to care then.”

She added that she thought social media was “probably” inspiring much of the opposition to the change.