Beautiful game for the family

DON Burslam and Ruthven Urquhart, who lament the decadence of modern sport, especially football (Yorkshire Post, June 11) have a right to their opinion but I wonder if they actually attend matches.

Somewhat perversely, I have fond memories of early post- war football with almost exclusively adult male crowds, primitive toilet facilities and quagmire pitches. Six decades on, Britain’s favourite professional sport has seen off poor attendances and the worst of the hooliganism to become a family entertainment.

Yes, players are overpaid, admission charges are in danger of becoming prohibitive and something needs to be done about the cancer of cheating in the sport. Yet, despite more and more alternative attractions, football has never been more popular, with remarkable attendances right through the leagues.

As Ian McMillan, who writes affectionately about Barnsley FC will testify, football can now be a pleasant family experience.

Flying a kite in protest

From: Terry Duncan, Greame Road, Bridlington, East Yorkshire.

IT is just weeks since our local councillors were elected, promising to do everything to defend the ratepayers.

But, what happens here in East Yorkshire, where the local authority is known as Deaf ERYC? A decision has been taken to ban children flying kites on the beaches (Yorkshire Post, June 11).

There is no record of whether the decision was taken by a majority of the elected members or was it the decision of a group of jobsworths who never had a childhood.

If our children were still at home, I would have them all on the beaches tomorrow with their kites, even if it meant the £500 fine for defying the edict.

And I hope other families will follow.