The Referee

On Saturday the football season got under way for a lot of people.  However for me my first competitive game is not until this Saturday when I go to Thurnby.   However this weekend I Refereed a friendly, Gresley Rovers vs Eastwood. Both teams are from the Unibond, Gresley from Div1 and Eastwood the Premier.  

I was really looking forward to the game, and as I said to my two assistants the two teams want to iron out the kinks in their games as do we.  Players can go and do training drills, take free kicks and practice set pieces.  As Officials we cant go over the local park and practice judging offsides (well we can but the Cat kept springing the chairs offside traps)

In the first half I felt my positioning was a bit out.  I also had the chance to play a couple of advantages which was good for confidence.  The only problem I had though was time-wasting   Perhaps to say Time-wasting is a bit harsh, I would call it time consuming or being knackered

After about 20 minutes a Gresley player was limping a little and a team mate told him to go down to kill time.  I jokingly said to him its a bit early in the season to be playing for time.  He explained that it was an attempt to get a breather as the heat was taking its toll.  Then about 10 minutes later he stood on a free kick, I got him back with no issues.  A few minutes later an Eastwood player did this again he came back with no issues.  A couple of minutes later the Gresley player did this again, I told him that next Saturday he would by now of at least been cautioned.

In the 40th minute the Gresley player gave away a free kick and held on to the ball.   An Eastwood player then grabbed the ball of him and I thought for a second we may have a skirmish.  I was only a couple of yards away and a quick blow on the whistle and it stopped before it even started.   I took this chance to pull the Gresley player out and have a public word.

He protested his innocence, I suggested that while we spoke he gets his breath back.  I explained to him that if he could not keep on blocking the ball and delaying the restart.  Next Saturday he would be in the book and the way he was continuing this Saturday would be no different.   A couple of minutes later a Eastwood player had some treatment and I was talking to one of their defenders.  We spoke about the fact that both sides were trying to delay the game because they needed breathers but in doing this the other team was getting frustrated and vice versa.    I explained I wanted to use common sense need to be aware of credibility   I said though he could help me out.  At half time I was going to ask the two managers if they wanted a drinks break for their players.  In an effort to let them catch their breath and get some fluid on.  I explained that the player could help me and suggest it as well.    I’m not sure if he did, but when I asked the first of the two managers he didn’t want it as come next Saturday they may have to play in the heat.

To be fair apart from a guy in the last minute no one else really tried to delay play after that.

Incident wise, with the game at 2-0 to Eastwood.  I awarded a penalty to Gresley for shirt pulling at a corner.  Eastwood didn’t take this to well and said that both sides were doing this and it was soft.  Perhaps……however the pull I a significant and stopped the player jumping for the ball.   I made a point of getting back to the halfway line.  An Eastwood player decided at the restart to carry on with the dissent.  So I made a point before we restarted to have a public word and make it clear that if he continued I would caution him regardless.

About 15 minutes later the Gresley keeper forced an Eastwood attacker wide on the goal line but in an attempt to get the ball knocked the striker of his feet, penalty  No real complaints apart from one player who asked what I would have done if the ball had been played back in.   I said i may have delayed a second to see if an attacker was going to put it in, but it would still have been a penalty.  Eastwood missed the kick.

In the last minute Eastwood broke through and the keeper rushed out.  I thought for a second he was going to bring the attacker down which would have been a bit ackard, however two defenders were close enough and he was far enough out that it would have been a caution.  However the Eastwood player put the ball in the back of the net to make it 3-1.

With everything in context I was relativity happy.  My reading improved in the second half although a couple of times I was caught in the wrong position for decisions.   I was happy with the advantages I played, although it may have been more of an advantage to have given Gresley a free kick in the 2nd half rather than an advantage as the ball was pretty central on the edge of the area. 

I have another run out on Wednesday when a Gresley reserve/first team mix play Burton Albion youth team.  So have a chance to iron out the kinks ready for Saturday.