IT SEEMS a new member to the 'BRFC foot-in-mouth club' has emerged in Mr Mel Highmore, stadium security manager at Ewood Park.

His enrolment follows his statement (LET, March 23) and his apparent bemusement at the lack of tolerance displayed by certain Rovers fans at the violation of 'home' sections of the ground by away supporters.

I would like Mr Highmore to don his rose-tinted spectacles and picture this scene: A team visit Ewood Park in the final game of the season.

Rovers need a win to ensure another ticket on the Premier League gravy train, the opposition need a win to secure European qualification. The opposing fans meet in local parks to swap sandwiches and football stickers whilst the local pubs teem with mutual appreciation and spilt ale.

As fans approach Ewood Park, the ground sways to sounds of the 'Hokey Cokey' and 'The Birdie Song'. Inside, the fans chat and exchange stories of past triumphs over one another whilst sipping Perrier. As the teams emerge, the fans cheer both sets of players as their names are announced.

The visiting team score first and the whole ground stands to celebrate a well taken goal and discuss arrangements for a large street party outside the ground.

The whistle blows and Rovers are relegated, however, the sporting Rovers fans wish their rivals all the best and look forward to the arrival of the Crewe and Bury supporters, and a weekend in Barnsley.

Seem imaginary and slightly unreal Mr Highmore? That's because it is! Although this seems the idyllic Utopian image you seem to envisage. While in some ways this ideal is quite admirable, in reality football never has been and never will be a sport viewed passively by obedient, submissive, passionless sheep.

We may have replaced the wooden planks and Bovril with shiny plastic seating and ice-cream milkshakes, but we haven't replaced the history and intense rivalries surrounding football clubs which is almost tribal!

Remember Mr Highmore, every 'intolerant' Rovers supporter knows that most visiting supporters would like nothing more than to see Rovers relegated.

Perhaps we should tolerate opposing fans in our sections, why not go the whole hog and cheer their team and tolerate our own relegation? Ask any supporter buying tickets at the ticket office the following question: "Would you like to sit next to an away fan?

JASON THOMAS, Cherry Tree, Blackburn.

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