SIR: Although I do not condone any type of unruly or offensive behaviour by football supporters, I must reply to Mr Fogg's comments regarding his recent experience at the Reebok Stadium (BEN, September 29).

Mr Fogg, whilst celebrating the performance of the team, took exception to the behaviour of a minority of Bolton Wanderers supporters towards their Manchester Utd counterparts. It fringes on fantasy to think that we will ever rid it entirely from 'our' game.

The rivalry between Bolton Wanderers and Manchester Utd stretches way back to which the fruition of the Taylor Report and a plague of new stadia will, sadly, do little to curb.

I take offence at the way Mr Fogg depicted the Man. Utd fans

in his letter and the unproportionate amount of blame he ascribed to the Wanderers and their supporters for any type of 'incident' that occurred that afternoon.

I would like to suggest that the Man. Utd supporters did their fair share to incite any type of occurence between themselves and rival fans. It is well documented that Man Utd have a distasteful attitude on the pitch and a colourful history of violence off it.

The Reebok derby game against the Wanderers was no exception to this rule. I have heard reports from reliable sources that Utd fans ran riot in numerous pubs in the area, caused mayhem with local residents and damaged our new stadium. Go and see the residents of Horwich or indeed the maintainence team at the Reebok Stadium all of whom are still picking up the pieces left over from that match and ask them what they think of Man. Utd fans.

Gareth Greenway,

Sapling Road, Bolton

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