Since I achieved my Level 4 I have officiated on the Leicester Senior League as my Supply League. Two years ago the decision was made as a pilot to pool the Officials from the Senior League, with the Midland Comb, West Midlands League and create a Midlands Pool. The Referee’s would then officiate on any of the leagues and also on the Midland Football Alliance. This has worked really well and has enabled a good variety of standards and teams.
Anyway during last season it was confirmed that the Senior League would be losing its Step 6 status and so there would be a new league created with teams from the Senior League & Central Midlands making up a new East Midlands League. It was unclear where the officials would come from. However given where I live on the border of Leicester shire & Derby shire I expected I would be brought on to the new league.
A few weeks ago the supply leagues were announced. The new East Midlands league would join up with the Senior League in its new state & the Central Midlands league to create and East Midlands pool. I spoke to another Referee who lives 3 miles from me and he would be on this. However I had received no letter.
Two days later and I had received no letter. How odd i thought, but maybe they were being sent out by County or something.
It turned out I wasn’t to be on the East Midlands pool, but was staying where I was on the West Midlands Pool. So next season with the exception of the Leicestershire clubs in the MFA I will be out of County each week.
Its going to be interesting not seeing the senior league clubs, but a change is a good as a break and I’m looking forward to this different challenge and the chance to see new faces. is
