Its always been there. I remember confronting a moron who turned up every week to racially abuse Des Hazel. In those days the stewards told me to ignore it or leave, and threatened to throw me out otherwise. At least now the club makes a show of wanting to clamp down on it. On Saturday a bloke in his sixties (I would guess) with what looked like his grandchildren yelled 'you black c***' at Bacuna of Reading. My first thought was - what chance have those poor kids got? I am pretty sure someone nearby reported him to a steward. My own view is that there are and always have been a fair percentage of people who are racist to some degree or other. They have largely sat on their hands with it in recent years but their core views haven't changed. Sadly they have become emboldened by (without getting political) recent events at home and abroad which in their dim brains makes them feel that it is legitimate for them to air their disgraceful prejudices. It makes me feel sick to the stomach.

Perhaps we need to be more proactive. Instead of just banning people who engage in racist abuse (which I agree must happen), can we do a bit more to persuade people to think differently instead of just forcing them to keep their racism under wraps? I applaud the intent behind Kick It Out etc but it has become a bit tired as a message. Its just 'the annual kick it out game'. I think I would like to hear our own players present and past (black and white) speak more to explain what racism looks like and feels like from their perspective. That personalisation might hit home more than a faceless campaign. That approach requires individuals to stand up and be counted and it is a lot to ask of them, and it isn't up to football to cure the problems of society generally, but it might help. And yes, ban the ****ers as well.

And the award for thread title of the year goes to.................