HAVING watched a junior football match involving my son's team, I am very concerned at the racial abuse which was directed at my nine-year-old boy during what is usually an entertaining game enjoyed by both parents and children alike.

One particular woman spectator bellowed across the pitch at the top of her voice: "Stop the black ......."

Racial abuse is rife in professional games and I know steps are being taken to eliminate it, but what hope is there if we're faced with it at junior level?

How do you explain to a child that the colour of his skin is seen as a crime and an eyesore to racist bigots like the woman he encountered?

Apparently, this particular individual is renowned for her abusive behaviour at previous matches. That's all the move reason why I feel strongly that something positive must be done to stamp out this problem now and keep people like her away.

V BARKER (Mrs), Kingsway, Church, Accrington.

Converted for the new archive on 14 July 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.