I feel very lucky sometimes that in this profession the chances to watch football matches are in abundance. I normally grasp the chances with both hands as well. I watch games, whether it be from the Premier League or Blue Square north with as much interest and enthusiasm as I would if I were pervading over my own teams fortunes. You see things in a different light to the fans and supporting rivals of the teams on show. For instance if I were a Chelsea fan, I wouldn't count myself out of the title picture, on the other hand the top two should be cautious that a multi million pound juggernaut is waiting in the wings anticipating an unfortunate slip from the leaders. If I were a Newcastle fan I would have been more wary about the appointment of a so called messiah, yet it appears all the Geordies took it in good faith that their club would score five if Aston Villa scored four? If I were a Bournemouth fan I'd have to say that maybe going into administration is a solution for the long term, yet at the time to any passionate follower it spells certain doom, subsequently leading to relegation from League 1 this season.

Also, what one tries to ascertain from the games un-concerning of my beloved Forest are the reactions and passionate endorsements by the people who matter most, the fans. Who do they sing for most, what clever songs have they made up for there talismanic captain and lastly why they are booing a team that still has everything to play for with just under half the season to go?

Nottingham Forest were third at start of play this weekend and subsequently remained there after a comfortably easy 2-0 victory over a roarless Millwall. There home record read 'un-beaten in thirteen' with only Leeds early in the season taking three points away from the City Ground. A new signing was un-veiled, which after reading and listening to fans opinions was what they demanded. Yet still, after what can't be described as the best performance ever likely to be seen on the banks of the Trent in the first half, it seemed that instead of paying their money to support the team and encourage the players to put more effort in it appeared that seventeen thousand Forest fans had paid to undermine the confidence and ability of the people chosen to wear the clubs red tops. I don't find booing your own team acceptable nor do I encourage people to single out a player for un-necessary abuse.

Grant Holt took a verbal battering at times, despite not being on the field more than half an hour, from narrow minded petty supporters to whom a few weeks ago were more than likely toasting the big man after his two goals and man of the match performance against Leyton Orient. So why, after slipping, then subsequently miss placing a pass, something that Lewis McGugan and Kris Commons do often enough, did Holt have to suffer dirge remarks. Less we forget he top scored last season, less we forget he played through the pain whilst vastly popular strikers were allowed to heal and why were on the subject of our big Northern centre forward we should remember that at over 6ft in height and not blessed with electric pace, he's asked to ply his trade in far from the most comfortable positions. He works hard chasing down worried defences and pops up on the wings trying to trick his way past full backs to deliver crosses to which he himself would thrive on. I witnessed Nathan Tyson get to the bye-line several times against Millwall and the quality of crosses were on par with a wrong footed clown, yet no derogatory booing?

We shouldn't boo the players who wear the shirts we should support. If my manager came up to me and told me how pitiful I was and that I didn't deserve a T-shirt with the company logo embossed on the chest I can't imagine I'd want to work any harder, especially if everybody around me offered little or no constructive input or encouragement. If I were met with the distasteful and down right un-called for verbal punishment handed out to me because I was only third best at my job and my peers before me operated at a much higher level, then I'm not sure performance efficiency would rise.

Why not offer words of encouragement? Why not try and convince that player that he can do better? Why not support the managers decisions instead of believing that you are the modern day re-incarnation of Shankly, Ramsey or our very own Cloughie?

I witnessed the same thing happening at Villa park on Saturday as the Villa team went down the tunnel one goal down to Newcastle. An ear bashing echo of booing greeted the claret and blue men, yet when I thought about it I had to chuckle at the absurdness of it all. Martin O'Neil has taken a sleeping giant of a Midlands club and restored real pride back into the fold. Sat in fifth place at the start of play and hoping to go level with forth place Everton by end of the days proceedings. A team that has underachieved for so many years, they even let John Gregory manage there, and with just one defeat in 9 was there really a need for the jeering? One down at half time is your time to encourage and get behind your men. Raise the noise levels, cheer the team off, let them know you appreciate what has gone before and that without question you think the players will return to the field with their gander up, their tales wagging and the words of an inspiring manager still clearly ringing in the ears.

The answer to the subject whether it be Forest, Villa or any other team for that matter is NO. Supporters support, Managers manage and footballers play football. Never before would a 0-0 score line have been worthy of a ear bashing, never before would third, in a league you deserve to be in, be classed as booable and never again should we despise our own players to the point that we would rather get on their case, instead of using the so called twelfth man to un-nerve an opposition.

Message to fans : Think before you yell, I know I've learnt my lesson.

Alan March.
Commentator for Visually Impaired Spectators at Nottingham Forest and Wembley Stadium.