A second successive double header for me to referee when the home team were unable to field a parent to take up the role. So, two matches totalling 40 minutes for me to pace myself through. I have to say the pace of the teams is beginning to test me -I watched the Man Utd v AC Milan game on Wednesday this week, when I saw the pace of that game, and what the ref had to do,I concluded that I may have only a season or so left in me - chasing the ball around at U9 level is fast enough for me.
Now, the Egerton parents didn't seem overly impressed with my latest 'must have' accessory. I'm not talking about the slimming 'Boro' training jacket, or the new stop watch. Did you not notice the difference with my new eyes? Three weeks ago I had laser eye surgery, responding to previous 'feedback' from the touchline that I should have gone to specsavers! It was this 'better than 20:20 vision' that gave me the edge awarding three penalties over the two games - none of which, apparently were seen by some of the Dads on the line - I recommend my surgeon at Ultralase Manchester!!
Despite the three penalties, both games were played in a really good spirit. The players are toughening up, and I thought it was the sort of hard but fair game that the they could do with once in a while. I tried to keep the game flowing but some shirt pulling & deliberate pushing led me to have words with a few players. We are starting to come up against some verbals as well "nice save keeper... not" was heard. The team will have to learn to live with 'sledging' it's going to get worse! A high foot which brushed the face and caused a cut led to me immediately blowing up when the attacking team were cleary flowing forward, but head injuries demand an immediate cessation of play. An important lesson in the first game - after the ball was picked up by the keeper from a back pass I awarded an indirect free kick in the box. Learning from the recent Premier League incident, I prevented a quick free kick and gave the defence ample time to get ready - I made it very clear to all players what was awarded - the defence didn't make the most of the time I allowed and conceded an easy goal - Worth watching the referee after a whistle is blown to make sure you understand exactly what has been awarded and then quickly prepare yourself for the next action.
Thoroughly enjoyed the game - My friends on the touchline, witnessed their first aggregate defeat in 35 games. They had to blame someone, and the Big man in black is a far better target than the Manager, kitman, or kids. It's OK, I can take it!
I try to base all of my actions on the field on honest interpretation of what I see and to referee to the best of my ability - maybe my new eyes need running in (like a new motor), but I can only act on how my brain interprets these new, crisper images!! Thanks for the banter at the end, makes me feel part of the entertainment. I look forward to reciprocating at a game very soon.
Looking forward to the next outing..... unless I've been dropped!
your man in black.
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