Owen Gibson writes that there is a decline in the ratings for watching TV football (Sport, 25 October). Perhaps this is because football journalists, commentators and pundits largely discuss the football happenings in the same few “big clubs” and comment on the games from the perspective of those few clubs. Perhaps the legions of fans are tired of this as they have a much broader interest in football.
Max Webb
Stonesby, Leicestershire
• Your editorial (25 October) on the Northern Ireland bakery discrimination case was admirably insightful and balanced. But you say that in the event of disputes, the law should protect sexual minorities over religious ones. On what grounds?
Terence Glover
Chalfont St Giles, Buckinghamshire
• My local charity shop only accepts magazines that it can sell (Letters, 24 October). Private Eye is the only one that fits the bill.
David Kelly
New Milton, Hampshire
• My son suffered a mental health crisis a year ago and dropped out of sixth form. Earlier this year he was sufficiently recovered to start a YMCA traineeship which included work experience at the local Oxfam bookshop. The patient, compassionate staff there have helped him to gain confidence, feel valued in an environment that accepts and celebrates his quirkiness, and find an undiscovered talent for customer service.
Name and address supplied
• Back in 1953 the airline flying us to the Isles of Scilly was less tactful than now appears to be the case (Letters, 25 October). We waited in a little wooden building as a cheerful chap with a set of scales weighed us one by one and then shouted the weight to another who kept a tally with paper and pencil. I was heavily pregnant at the time and afraid of tipping the balance, but fortunately we got through.
Betty Birch
London
• Re copycat branding (Letters, 18 October): on the other side of Stoke-on-Trent from Etruria is Dresden.
Bill Millward
Hathersage, Derbyshire
• Join the debate – email guardian.letters@theguardian.com
