Madam, - As a long-term reader of your Letters page, and an even longer-term football fan, I can scarcely articulate my pleasure at reading the letter of August 30th from Joe Patton.
I go back 20 years further than Mr Patton, having attended the first post-war FA Cup Final at Wembley (Charlton Athletic versus Derby County) as well all the World Cup games at Wembley in 1966. I would add to his collection names such as Matthews, Mortensen, Carter and Finney - all of whom I had the great pleasure of seeing in action.
I still have a press photograph of Stanley Matthews, with the caption: "on the maximum wage of £8 per week".
Anything more would, it was claimed, attract the "wrong type" into professional football.
Nowadays, watching the "professional fouls" and "diving" by players earning obscene amounts of money, I am inclined to agree. As Mr Patton suggests, the English Premier League could do with some added excitement; a few more dribblers would help! - Yours, etc,
W.J. MURPHY,
Malahide,
Co Dublin.