Man U study offside 1

The basis of Adam Brown's research that the provenance of Manchester United fans can be determined by reference to the address to which the season ticket is sold will cause wry amusement here in Manchester ("Whistle blown on Manchester fan myth", THES , October 11).

Many of these ticket-holders have been dead for decades but their names and addresses retained so that the purchaser can sell on to the visiting flock from Ireland, Scandinavia and, yes, even Singapore.

Gregory Clark
Manchester