THE face of football has changed over the years - not for the better in many cases.

As in most sports, money is God.

There are stars in the present game, but also thousands of quite mediocre players picking up ultra-large wages.

It's now all about squads of players, not necessarily because of injuries, but because there is little to choose from in the quality of their play.

Fitness is their main concentration - running exercises, etc - but skill on the ball should be their main aim.

Many of our more artistic stars are imported. Look at the Arsenal or Chelsea teams.

There no longer seems to be "automatic" teams, as was the case in the late 1940s when England beat Portugal away 10-0. Players picked themselves, the likes of Swift, Wright, Hardwick, Carter, Finney, Matthews, Mannion and Lawton.

The great Len Shackleton, who won every honour, couldn't be sure of a place in this 11.

There are many who will say these players wouldn't be able to compete in the game as it is today, but this statement generally comes from people who are not old enough to remember the artistry or the pleasure given by these stars.

K SOWERBUTTS, Southwood Drive, Baxenden.

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