I WAS surprised to read Stephen Cummings column (LET, May 11) in which he attempted to explain the extreme rivalry between Blackburn and Burnley football supporters.

He suggested that the hatred expressed between some of these supporters should be expected and is normal.

Any football club supporter who read the column and had any sense, will know that he does not actually intend to encourage such intense feelings as hatred amongst people who are interested in sport. Most readers will read it and recognise this traditional banter between two local clubs' supporters, and trust that his words are written with humour.

I have heard such expressions of envy from people who support a football club which has been less successful than another local club and cannot pretend that I do not experience passion when supporting my local and national football team.

However, I would not actually expect to hear a sportswriter express such strong emotions in the local press when he knows it will be read by children and young people.

I question his ethics as a reporter in encouraging feelings of hatred in impressionable youngsters.

JULIE HARRIS, Cornwall Road, Rishton

FOOTNOTE: Stephen Cummings is not a reporter. He is an ordinary fan who writes a weekly column on his personal views of Burnley Football Club for a small fee.

I happen to disagree with his latest comments. Let us have rivalry - but not hatred.

That leads to the obscenity of a Blackburn Rovers fan slashing the throat of a Manchester United fan as happened last Wednesday night - EDITOR.

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