BEACONSFIELD Sycob footballer Jason Griffiths has joined those calling for bladed boots to be banned after his knee was sliced open at the weekend.

The promising footballer had to have six stitches after he was tackled by an opponent during last Saturday's game against Brackley.

Bladed boots, which have plastic ridges instead of studs, were introduced by manufacturers a few years ago as a way of improving a footballer's stability during matches.

But Griffiths, who was kept in hospital for two days following an operation, told the Free Press: "I'm pretty certain that had the player who tackled me been wearing studs rather than blades, my injury would have been far less severe.

Paul Hughes, Sycob's vice-chairman, said: "When you see some of the horrific injuries which have been caused by them, then it has to be looked at. I think they are going to have to ban them. Jason could be out for a minimum of three weeks but it could be six. We are keeping our fingers crossed for him."

Just last week, the Free Press told how 23-year-old Gareth Risbriger had his knee was ripped open to the bone in an identical incident on January 17, 2004.

Risbriger, from Marlow, has been unable to play since the injury despite undergoing six operations.

Manfacturers insist bladed boots are safe, having undergone rigorous testing involving players of all aptitudes. FIFA have also concluded that bladed boots: "are no more dangerous than other traditional soccer outsoles."

We asked the football managers whose teams feature in the Free Press to give their thoughts on the bladed boot debate

- Flackwell manager Andy Driscoll has worn bladed boots for the last six years but he would sup-port a ban if it was introduced.

He said: "If they do create more injuries then they need to look at it and do something about it. I've never seen anyone get injured due to someone wearing blades but then I never went in for tackles! I wore them because they allowed you to grip the pitch and turn whereas studs would get caught and players were breaking their ankles."

- Chesham boss Steve Bateman said his ten-year-old son, Ben, had been banned from wearing them by his Watford Academy side.

Bateman said: "They have banned them because their view is that they are not safe for the boys.

"I am not a fan of bladed boots. My experience of them is that they can be dangerous.

You just have to look at the angle of impact in a tackle. I believe boots should be studded."

- Tony Joyce, manager of Thame United, said he wouldn't be too disappointed if the boots were outlawed or players were made to change them after a certain length of time.

He said: "I'm a school teacher by trade and I think they are trying to get them banned in schools.

"Some of the youngsters have a pair of boots, keep them for two years, and the blades are like razor blades. It's the same at this level. The blades run down as you are walking out on a bit of concrete and become really sharp."

- Simon Delahunty, Beaconsfield Sycob's caretaker boss, assumed the manufacturers carried out the necessary safety checks before boots were made.

He added: "I am sure if they were causing masses of injuries they would be banned or something would be done.

"I haven't seen too many injuries caused by blades but judging by the damage done to Jason's leg it is a worry."

- Marlow manager Kevin Stone is not a fan but revealed it's more to do with personal preference than safety.

He said: "I don't like them. If I had my way none of my players would wear them. Personally I wear moulded boots or studs. I am sure they've carried out tests on blades to see if they are safe.

"Who's to say that aluminium studs don't cause injuries. For me it's just a personal thing."