THERE was an excellent letter in Tuesday's Bolton News from a reader in which he lamented the disturbing impact of verbal abuse by fans at Wanderers games.

Of course there is nothing new with swearing at football, it has been going on in some form or other for more than a hundred years.

But the letter-writer paints a picture most people who attend football matches will be acquainted with that the problem goes well beyond the casual use of bad language.

He even goes so far as to admit he is quite happy his own son has stopped attending games with him because of the potentially contagious nature of this ugly behaviour.

The letter refers to a decision by the assistant referee – or linesman if you are old school – to flag for offside when Wanderers would otherwise have been awarded a penalty in the dying minutes.

A volley of abuse was then launched in the direction of the assistant referee from a section of the stand until the final whistle.

The problem was not restricted to those few minutes either, according to the letter which added a group of supporters seemed to be competing with each other all game to see who could shout the most abuse at the referee, the opposition and even one of their players.

It was an unpleasant atmosphere all round and one which the letter writer suggested might prevent one woman with a young child from returning to the ground, judging from his reading of her body language as they left.

He raises the question of whether Wanderers could be losing an entire demographic of supporters due to the behaviour of some in the crowd, and makes the point his club can ill afford to lose paying customers.

But where it gets really interesting is the idea he puts forward to counter the problem.

He suggests Wanderers designate a verbal-abuse-free zone for people, like him, who want to sit in a more pleasant and civilised atmosphere.

It goes without saying Wanderers are not on their own when it comes to this kind of anti-social behaviour in grounds.

It is a society problem that impacts on every club in the land.

You only have to watch a game on television to witness fans in the front few rows regularly springing to their feet to aim abusive words and gestures at the officials and opposition players.

It is often grown men who don't look the type to behave in such a way, but football seems to bring the worst out in people.

If such behaviour is contagious, which it does appear to be, it is no wonder people of a more respectful nature might think twice about going to games.

Which would be a shame because they would also be missing out on the great excitement, passion and joy that football can bring.

But you can't blame them. Why would people choose to spend time surrounded by foul-mouthed loutish behaviour at a football ground when they wouldn't in any other walk of life?

So Mr Rigby's suggestion of a verbal-abuse-free zone is an excellent one for a number of reasons.

Such an area would be a breath of fresh air for many who are sick and tired of foul-mouthed abusive types and give them a place to get away from it.

The section itself would be a constant visual message that people don't like such behaviour.

And if clubs are losing an entire demographic of supporters it might be a way of re-engage with them and winning them back.