I WRITE with consternation about Bishop Auckland’s new football stadium. My fair town’s football team has had its ups and downs over the past couple of decades, but the stadium brings with it the dawn of a new era and fresh hope.

But there are fears bubbling underneath the surface. It was with trepidation that I read club commercial manager Kim Fryer’s comment (Echo, July 24) that “the bar area will be very modern, with no football memorabilia”.

How is this justifiable? The club has a rich and amazing history and this should surely be commemorated in our new club.

I may not have been around when we won all of our FA Amateur Cups, but I know I’m proud and I’m sure every other Bishop Auckland resident is proud, too, and is as outraged as I am that our footballing heritage will not be recognised in this so-called modern club that seems to want to eradicate some of our older residents’ fond memories.

I will be going to watch our fine football team play at our new stadium, but it will be a sad and empty-looking bar if there is no evidence of our footballing past within it.

Michael Blighe, Bishop Auckland.