THE word "fan," in a sporting sense, is short for "fanatic."

It strikes me there is a thin line between a football fanatic and someone close to losing his reason - when you hear of one group of supporters hating their neighbouring team for no valid reason and when you hear of a man changing his car because his number plate has PNE in its registration.

Another has changed his name to Manchester United - I bet a lot of recipients of his cheques think it's a wind-up.

People who have far-from-glamorous jobs during the week turn from Dr Jekyll into Mr Hyde for a couple of hours.

A very large percentage contract an eye condition called tunnel vision, seeing only one colour.

On top of this, the mild-mannered man, who generally doesn't say boo to a goose, unleashes a torrent of venom at the opposing side and officials.

They pay their money, that's true, but if they could be rational and understand that the laws fit both teams, and show a bit of respect for their opponents, it wouldn't go amiss.

K SOWERBUTTS (Mr), Southwood Drive, Baxenden.

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