MORE football fans have hit out at the FA's decision to ban metal hooks on goalposts.

On Tuesday, The Northern Echo reported that a ban on the hooks had caused non-league matches to be postponed in the North-East.

Referees have been ordered by the FA not to start matches where the posts have metal hooks.

It says that players wearing rings can catch them on the hooks and injure their fingers.

Rings are already banned by the FA.

Eddy Adamson, who went to Shildon Railway v Brandon BL last month, only for it to be postponed, said: "I am absolutely disgusted the FA have upset ordinary grassroots supporters in this manner.

"While some organisations are trying to promote grassroots football, others with petty bureaucracy are driving young players and supporters from the game.

"I can only imagine the only ones who have gained any pleasure from this are the FA. I hope they are happy."

John Robertson said: "I think it is wrong that we have to modify the goalposts - they have been like this for years.

"People should not be jump- ing on them anyway."

John Shuttleworth, chairman of St John's Chapel FC, Weardale, told on Tuesday how his club had been ordered to replace its posts or saw the hooks off.

He said yesterday: "The FA are driving people away.

"We'll have to find someone to saw them off.

"I dare say there'll be small clubs told about this who will have just decided to pack up."