AS a rugby player, I know what it's like to come off the rugby pitch with an injury not connected with rugby but because of glass on the pitch and, on many occasions, smelling of dog muck.

I am all for the new protective fencing the Acorn rugby clubs has erected ('Rugby club's fence poser', November 17) to protect rugby league stars of the future - some as young as seven - from sustaining a preventable injury.

Obviously Coun Galloway doesn't have the safety of these youngsters at heart - because they can't vote.

Who paid for the new fences around Poppleton Road School, Carr Lane School, Westfield School? The council I suspect. Who paid for the Acorn fence? Acorn rugby club I suspect.

Coun Galloway goes on about public right of way but what about the kids' rights to play rugby without been blinded by dog muck?

Mark Hebblethwaite,

Lindsey Avenue,

Acomb, York.

Updated: 11:08 Thursday, November 20, 2003