this is what my customer/categories.tp looks like... i didnt see a <span
{* $Id: categories.tpl,v 1.23 2004/06/24 09:53:29 max Exp $ *}
{capture name=menu}
{if $active_modules.Fancy_Categories ne ""}
{include file="`$fancycategories_config.modules_path`/fancy_categories.tpl"}
{else}
{if $config.General.root_categories eq "Y"}
{section name=cat_num loop=$categories}
<FONT class="CategoriesList"><A href="home.php?cat={$categories[cat_num].categoryid}" class="VertMenuItems">{$categories[cat_num].category}</A></FONT><BR>
{/section}
{else} {section name=cat_num loop=$subcategories}
<FONT class="CategoriesList"><A href="home.php?cat={$subcategories[cat_num].categoryid}" class="VertMenuItems">{$subcategories[cat_num].category}</A></FONT><BR>
{/section}
{/if}
{/if}
{/capture}
{ include file="menu.tpl" dingbats="dingbats_categorie.gif" menu_title=$lng.lbl_categories menu_content=$smarty.capture.menu }