Redeemed in defeat

On Saturday night I got back from my regular 150-mile round trip to Hillsborough. The captain, Darren Purse, went off injured at half time, after which Wednesday went down to a one-nil defeat against Southampton with a performance that was half Marx Brothers, half Bambi on ice. It's a good job I stopped to have a cup of tea and read the Guardian, because the interview with Purse on the problem of homophobia in football ( 'I'd have to think very carefully before I advised a young footballer to come out' , Sport, 25 September) so impressed me that I decided – for the hundredth time – not to bin my season ticket. It was a good interview with an intelligent player on a subject that goes to the heart of football "culture". He deserves my support if the rest of the team don't. Glyn Turton Long Preston, North Yorkshire