It's good to see that all the national papers - apart from The Guardian - are now displaying poppies on their front pages in the run up to Remembrance Sunday.

But I was disappointed to read today that out of 20 football clubs in the Premier League, only 12 have had shirts made bearing poppies.

Those 12 include the North-East's only top flight club, Sunderland.

Our chief sports writer Scott Wilson informs me that Sunderland also invited servicemen, veterans and their families to the West Ham game at the Stadium of Light.

Good for Sunderland, who have a happy habit of getting its PR right.

I was amused by a report in the Daily Mail today that Manchester United - one of the eight Premier clubs without a poppy on their shirts - "are not helped by having a red shirt".

Quite frankly, that's a pathetic excuse. Surely, it's not beyond the wit of a multi-million pound organisation to set a poppy against a white background.

Football clubs have a wonderful opportunity to remember those who died serving their country. Millions all over the world would be reminded of their sacrifice and be encouraged to raise money for a valuable cause.

It wouldn't take much, would it?