A CLAMPDOWN on foul language is being considered by Devonshire Carpets Craven Football League officials after a growing number of complaints from members of the public, (writes Tony Simpson).

The general standard of verbal activity in the average local soccer match mirrors that of the high street and public transport, as well as that of the professional game, where there is no need of a lip-reading qualification to understand the feelings being expressed to officials and fellow players by our heroes.

"A while back we had a referee who launched a one-man crusade against foul language - both that directed against him and also against opponents," says a Craven League official.

"Players were booked and sent off for repeated breaches of what he considered to be gentlemanly conduct and after a succession of players were pulled up and banned, the whole league started to become a much more pleasant environment in which to play.

"Now the signs are that behaviour has started to slip and only recently one of our teams was in hot water for giving a young referee a hard time verbally - something we are not going to tolerate.

"However commonplace it may have become in society at large, bad language still causes offence to lots of supporters watching the game with their children and it is something we need to think about.

"This week's programme again contains a mix of cup and league action, with Craven FA knockout matches being interspersed with Craven League Cup and league games.

There is also another batch of mid-week evening games, with Tuesday's Premier Division League Cup semi-final between Cross Hills and Skipton LMS one of the more attractive ties. The programme includes:

Tomorrow (2pm)

Craven FA

Morrison Cup quarter-final: Dent v Skipton LMS.

Norman Pratt Trophy quarter-final replay: Dent Res v Rimington.

Devonshire Carpets Craven League

Premier Division Cup semi-final: Bronte Wanderers v Oxenhope Recreation.

Premier Division: Grassington United v Embsay, Keighley Lifts v Intake.

Division One: Skipton Bulldogs v Oxenhope Rec Res, Carleton v Chatburn, Waddington v Gargrave, Barrowford United v Cowling.

Division Two: Hellifield Sports v Ingleton, Grindleton Res v Cononley Sports Res, Cross Hills Res v Grassington Res, McBrides v Skipton LMS Res.

Division Three: Gargrave Res v Skipton Bulldogs Res, Pendle Athletic v Rolls-Royce, Earby Town v Earby.

Monday, April 5 (6.15pm)

Division Three: Hellifield Sports Res v Earby Town, Skipton Town Res v Pendle Athletic, Waddington Res v Barnoldswick Barons, Skipton Bulldogs Res v Oakworth Juniors.

Division One: Carleton v Skipton Bulldogs.

Tuesday, April 6 (6.15pm)

Premier Division: Oxenhope Recreation v Bradley, Bronte Wanderers v Cononley Sports, Embsay v Grindleton.

Premier Division League Cup semi-final: Cross Hills v Skipton LMS.

Wednesday, April 7 (6.15pm)

Division Two: Grassington Utd Res v Silsden Athletic, Grindleton Res v Keighley Lifts Res, Intake Res v Hellifield Sports Res Bradley Res v Cross Hills Res.

Thursday, April 8 (6.15pm)

Premier Division: Bradley v Cross Hills.

Division One League Cup semi-final: Chatburn v Waddington.

Division One: Embsay Res v Barrowford United, Skipton Town v Skipton Bulldogs, Carleton v Gargrave.

Division Three: Hellifield Sports Res v Oakworth Juniors.