SOME time ago, I suggested in the letter pages of the Oxford Mail to Oxford City Council that they approach the Oxfordshire FA (whom I estimated had about £700,000-plus in the bank at that time) and ask for a contribution towards improving council facilities.

I said in fairness, those sports facilities are predominantly used by football teams from across Oxfordshire. The OFA are the ‘area fee and fine collectors’ for the national body and therefore responsible for the development of football and its facilities all across our county.

I and another city referee colleague subsequently attended a meeting held at Oxford City FC last year and it would now appear the city council, at least, is funding improvements to buildings etc for pitch hirers; I for one am delighted to hear that very progressive news.

Sadly at that same meeting, one of the two OFA directors said: “It would be unfair on the clubs outside the city if the OFA paid towards facilities within Oxford alone.”

One assumes then that no money will ever be spent by the OFA anywhere, for fear of upsetting someone.

I would retrospectively like to publicly thank the co-presenters for that evening from Oxford City Council and Oxfordshire FA, for putting on a really first-class presentation. I think it fair to say that those in attendance were pleased to tell the city council the pitches themselves were by and large of a very good quality and well prepared, thanks to the hard work of the Parks teams.

DAVID WILLIAMS David Walter Close Oxford