AS one of Noel Wild's fans, I know he will be sadly missed.

He was a household name in these parts and I am proud to have met such a great sports writer.

There was a different air about Noel and his writing. He had a knack of making readers feel they were meeting up with old pals through his columns and making renewed friendships. He liked that.

He was popular among people he did not even know. I have heard his name many times during friendly arguments in the tap room. He got them going. His column was popular among ordinary working men. That's why he was so special. He did something no other writer did, in his field.

He put out a challenge on questions and answers, with a wry smile.

That's the reason he had so many fans.

Tuesday evenings won't be the same without his column. He will be sadly missed by us all - as a lover of sport and a pal.

BERNARD HOWSON, Saunders Road, Blackburn.

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