I think one in four Sunday League gamnes are played without a ref because no-one want to be a ref because of the abuse they get from the players. What makes these pre-madonna wannabe, talentless thugs tick? It's an appauling example to set to their children, but they probably don't care, and their kids will end up the same.

As for encouraging my son to play football, I'll avoid it if I can. With yacht racing and golf, you learn alot about self discipline, self governing regarding the rules, a fair sense of play, manners, ettiquete, dressing suitably for the sport, respect for other competitors, and your surroundings. I do not want my son growing up thinking that being aggresive, rude, foul tempered and cheating is the way to behave in sport, let alone life.

I used to get alot of stick at school for not being into football, and I used to be called all sorts of things for my dinghy racing, snob etc. However, with the price of season tickets, football kit, football boots, mugs and all other parafinalia, golf looks quite a 'cheap' option. Certainly it cost me (my parents) less to go dinghy racing in my Ł300 boat, than it did for some of the footie kids and all their stuff. Go figure about me being the rich snob.

It just goes to prove that it's not about the money but traditional 'class' values. Football is for the lower classes, and golf, sailing, horse riding extra are for the middle and upper classes.

I'm not saying that the last statement is exclusive, but it's the perception of what classes our sports fit into. What's amuzing it's these dense footie types that think we're snobs, but it costs me less to play golf than a season ticket at Portsmouth would cost.

Incidently, how many pro footballers play golf or have gin palace boats etc?

I admire raw talent and skill in any sport, but with football I'm afraid that it's fans / ameaters have ruined it and their short sighted, stupid logic, and appauling behaviour.

Go ahead, flame me! Popcorn at the ready!