Pre-season is synonymous with change in football. New kits are unveiled. The revolving door that is the football transfer market opens. Managers experiment with new systems.

Nevertheless, amongst the upheaval there are some constants. A club would usually be ill-advised to tamper with an historic crest. Home colours stay the same, regardless of how whacky the shirt design.

Until now, clubs have also been reluctant to interfere with the personal identities of their supporters.

UPDATE: Saints respond after criticism from fan over tickets

I arrived back from holiday expecting to find tickets for the upcoming friendlies with Oxford United and Millwall on my doormat. 

Sure enough, they were there. What I wasn’t expecting was to be addressed as “Mx” Culley. “Mx” is a gender neutral title which has been designed to replace traditional titles such as “Mr” and “Mrs”.

I had never elected to use this title in correspondence with the club. I double checked my ticketing account: I had clearly selected “Mr”, but an override has clearly been put in place to force “Mx” onto, I presume, everyone. It appears for a split second before disappearing: one cannot reverse it.

Why is this a big deal you may ask? For me, it is the thin end of the wedge.

If some people want to use this title then that’s their business. Someone could use the title of “Witchfinder General” for all I care.

However, I strongly object to this facet of contested ideology being imposed upon me.   

Alexander Culley
Eastleigh