West Ham United supporter, Glen Brighton, has been chosen to join a unique panel of 20 dedicated football fans -- one from each Premier League club -- to debate the game's top topical issues with football presenter, Ray Stubbs.

Glen, 32, from Northumberland Avenue, Hornchurch, was chosen by The FA Premier League sponsor, Yorkie, as part of an extensive nationwide search to give fans the chance to voice their views on the national game.

Glen recently joined 19 fellow Premier League football supporters and the BBC's Ray Stubbs for the first meeting of the Yorkie Voice of the Fans panel at Vicarage Road, home of Watford FC.

Following the shock announcement by Newcastle United and England captain, Alan Shearer, the question of his successor as England skipper, was top of the agenda to kick-off the debate.

The panel gave its unanimous support to Spurs and England defender, Sol Campbell to succeed Shearer as the next England captain.

Other key issues under discussion included the installation of tv cameras to aid Premier League referees, the introduction of a core of professional referees, the influx of overseas players in the Premier League and the increasing role of tv in the game.

Glen said: "I was pleased and proud to be chosen to be a member of the panel. I've been an avid Hammers supporter for as long as I can remember and felt that this would be a great opportunity to voice the views of supporters on some of the game's top issues.

"Like many people of my age, my first experience of a football match was with my father.

''He was brought up in East London at the end of the war and like all local children there was only one place to watch your football, and that was at West Ham.

"The enthusiasm soon rubbed off on me and from an early age I was attending games. The first real memory I have was going to Bobby Moore's testimonial game in the early seventies."

He added: "Football is always a popular subject, but it's not very often that fans from around the Premier League get the chance to sit down and talk about the game with each other in any real depth.

''Although our loyalties may be at odds, many of our views on the game's key issues are the same."

The next meeting of the Yorkie Voice of the Fans panel will take place in April and West Ham fans around the region are being invited to forward topics for debate by Glen and the panel via the Yorkie website at www.thegame.co.uk/yorkie.

BBC football presenter, Ray Stubbs, said: "British football fans are among the most loyal and knowledgeable supporters in the world.

''At a time when the game has developed such a huge presence and influence, it is vital that the views and opinions of the fans are taken into account and listened to.

"It's great that Yorkie has given fans another channel to discuss the game's top topics and exchange views."

Deena Khodeir, Yorkie brand manager, said: "Many of the fans follow their team's every match, home and away, and are an important part of the life and soul of their favourite club and are the real backbone of football.

"We wanted to give true fans the chance to air their views with like-minded supporters and understand the key issues affecting the fans on the terraces."

Glen Brighton with BBC football preesenter Ray Stubbs at the first meeting of the Yorkie Voice of the Fans at Watford Football Club.

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