Football for families

Sir: It is ironic that the England bid for the 2006 World Cup should "put the family first" (report, 10 August). Last Saturday, on the first day of the season, I witnessed the stoning of three official Fulham FC supporters' coaches outside Birmingham City FC. As usual, these coaches contained families and they were cowering from the flying glass.

Furthermore, inside the ground a seven-year-old girl was hit on the head by a coin.

When the world is watching, rhetoric about "the family game" sounds very grand. Away from the media glare, however, the reality of English football support is quite different.

ANDREW CRAMP

Birmingham