| Sat next to Ref from Sat - Farai Hallam 13:50 - Oct 21 with 2748 views | nrb1985 |
Apropos of nothing, sat next to our ref from Sat on a plane to Zurich this morning - he's reffing FC Thun in conference tonight.
Had a very quick chat and some "bantz" about Saturday and the pen.
Lovely bloke, facetimed his young family before we took off, seemed a good chap.
Easy to forget they're just human beings like you and I when screaming obscenities at them with 30k other people each Saturday...
Obviously though I won't stop doing that as that's the best bit about going to footy. [Post edited 21 Oct 15:55]
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| Sat next to Ref from Sat - Farai Hallam on 14:06 - Oct 21 with 2611 views | EdwardStone |
You kinda wonder about the psychology behind wanting to become a ref.....
Power-crazed meglomaniac?
Wanted to be a professional player but wasn't good enough?
Contrarian who enjoys sowing controversies?
See also..... Traffic Warden, Mortuary Technician |  | | |
| Sat next to Ref from Sat - Farai Hallam on 14:13 - Oct 21 with 2565 views | SitfcB |
What did he say about the game? Did you ask about his incompetent lino? 
He’s actually one of the better ones usually but a few dodgy calls in Man City’s favour. |  |
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| Sat next to Ref from Sat - Farai Hallam on 14:16 - Oct 21 with 2547 views | Steve_M |
| Sat next to Ref from Sat - Farai Hallam on 14:13 - Oct 21 by SitfcB |
What did he say about the game? Did you ask about his incompetent lino?
He’s actually one of the better ones usually but a few dodgy calls in Man City’s favour. |
I thought he was pretty good overall but got a few things fairly badly wrong. Penalising Enciso on the half-way line just before half-time, the one on Leif and the penalty.
Plus those offside decisions being given apparently in error, and that was the linesman. |  |
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| Sat next to Ref from Sat - Farai Hallam on 14:18 - Oct 21 with 2524 views | Nutkins_Return |
| Sat next to Ref from Sat - Farai Hallam on 14:06 - Oct 21 by EdwardStone |
You kinda wonder about the psychology behind wanting to become a ref.....
Power-crazed meglomaniac?
Wanted to be a professional player but wasn't good enough?
Contrarian who enjoys sowing controversies?
See also..... Traffic Warden, Mortuary Technician |
I wrote about this before.
Deal with a lot of refs when coaching including a lot of young teenagers starting out in coaching. Most of them are still playing themselves but are really switched on young people (not all - some are pushed by their parents I think for good reasons to help with their confidence/experience). One I deal with a lot is also a goalkeeper and coaches by a top pro himself and is now coaching my keeper to pass on what he has learnt. Just a top person.
Some of these young kids are fantastic and for the most part I think it's human nature that when they are really good at something (and hopefully get real encouragement and positive reinforcement from good coaches and not the tw#ts) they probably just enjoy it.
Like most of us they don't make it in the game itself but can maybe make it as a ref. As the OP says I think the vast majority are probably really good people. Like anything when you make it to the top a bit of ego might creep in.
Also like anything you always get a few bad uns. | |
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| Sat next to Ref from Sat - Farai Hallam on 14:26 - Oct 21 with 2425 views | nrb1985 |
| Sat next to Ref from Sat - Farai Hallam on 14:13 - Oct 21 by SitfcB |
What did he say about the game? Did you ask about his incompetent lino?
He’s actually one of the better ones usually but a few dodgy calls in Man City’s favour. |
Ha I didn’t ask him about the lino! Should have though.
I recognized him at boarding as he had the PL/PGMOL backpack etc on - he was then in the seat next to me, so I just asked if he was going to FIFA (Zürich) he said no, he was doing FC Thun. He asked me how I knew, told him I was a town Fan bla bla bla and that was kind of it other than a few brief pleasant words.
He seemed absolutely gobsmacked anybody knew who he was 🤣 | | | |
| Sat next to Ref from Sat - Farai Hallam on 14:29 - Oct 21 with 2405 views | nrb1985 |
| Sat next to Ref from Sat - Farai Hallam on 14:06 - Oct 21 by EdwardStone |
You kinda wonder about the psychology behind wanting to become a ref.....
Power-crazed meglomaniac?
Wanted to be a professional player but wasn't good enough?
Contrarian who enjoys sowing controversies?
See also..... Traffic Warden, Mortuary Technician |
Can’t be sure but he was scrolling his phone at one point and looked like there was some pics of him playing non league or similar, so assume he was a half decent player.
He was in very good shape too as you would expect - albeit those of us old enough will remember Phil Dowd and the like! | | | |
| Sat next to Ref from Sat - Farai Hallam on 14:53 - Oct 21 with 2211 views | SitfcB |
| Sat next to Ref from Sat - Farai Hallam on 14:29 - Oct 21 by nrb1985 |
Can’t be sure but he was scrolling his phone at one point and looked like there was some pics of him playing non league or similar, so assume he was a half decent player.
He was in very good shape too as you would expect - albeit those of us old enough will remember Phil Dowd and the like! |
Wiki says he was at Stevenage as a youth.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ | |
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| Sat next to Ref from Sat - Farai Hallam on 15:57 - Oct 21 with 2007 views | nrb1985 |
Wow, first EFL match was 2024 and now in the Prem.
So he's either really good, or... | | | |
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| Sat next to Ref from Sat - Farai Hallam on 16:43 - Oct 21 with 1876 views | Deano69 |
| Sat next to Ref from Sat - Farai Hallam on 14:06 - Oct 21 by EdwardStone |
You kinda wonder about the psychology behind wanting to become a ref.....
Power-crazed meglomaniac?
Wanted to be a professional player but wasn't good enough?
Contrarian who enjoys sowing controversies?
See also..... Traffic Warden, Mortuary Technician |
Those that can, play, those that can't ref..?
Probably harsh... |  |
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| Sat next to Ref from Sat - Farai Hallam on 17:20 - Oct 21 with 1776 views | Radlett_blue |
| Sat next to Ref from Sat - Farai Hallam on 16:43 - Oct 21 by Deano69 |
Those that can, play, those that can't ref..?
Probably harsh... |
The dreaded Clive Thomas was a youth player at Norwich until he got a bad ankle injury.
Not sure how he fits into that argument, but he's the 1 referee I always hated and still do. |  |
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| Sat next to Ref from Sat - Farai Hallam on 17:38 - Oct 21 with 1707 views | Deano69 |
| Sat next to Ref from Sat - Farai Hallam on 17:20 - Oct 21 by Radlett_blue |
The dreaded Clive Thomas was a youth player at Norwich until he got a bad ankle injury.
Not sure how he fits into that argument, but he's the 1 referee I always hated and still do. |
and definitely answers a number of questions on his officiating of our matches....
Probably more relevant are the clear 3 categories of ref:
Failed Players / Look at me Control Freaks / A$$holes
I wonder which one he fits....? | |
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| Sat next to Ref from Sat - Farai Hallam on 17:50 - Oct 21 with 1661 views | Nthsuffolkblue |
| Sat next to Ref from Sat - Farai Hallam on 14:06 - Oct 21 by EdwardStone |
You kinda wonder about the psychology behind wanting to become a ref.....
Power-crazed meglomaniac?
Wanted to be a professional player but wasn't good enough?
Contrarian who enjoys sowing controversies?
See also..... Traffic Warden, Mortuary Technician |
Whilst I am sure that must play into it for a lot of them, I would add in:
Realise there is no match without any officials. |  |
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| Sat next to Ref from Sat - Farai Hallam on 17:53 - Oct 21 with 1657 views | RayleighBlue |
Seem to remember him having a very good game first game of the season against Sunderland. | | | |
| Sat next to Ref from Sat - Farai Hallam on 18:07 - Oct 21 with 1613 views | Radlett_blue |
| Sat next to Ref from Sat - Farai Hallam on 17:38 - Oct 21 by Deano69 |
and definitely answers a number of questions on his officiating of our matches....
Probably more relevant are the clear 3 categories of ref:
Failed Players / Look at me Control Freaks / A$$holes
I wonder which one he fits....? |
Clive "the book" Thomas ticked all 3 boxes. | |
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| Sat next to Ref from Sat - Farai Hallam on 18:15 - Oct 21 with 1563 views | Plums |
| Sat next to Ref from Sat - Farai Hallam on 17:38 - Oct 21 by Deano69 |
and definitely answers a number of questions on his officiating of our matches....
Probably more relevant are the clear 3 categories of ref:
Failed Players / Look at me Control Freaks / A$$holes
I wonder which one he fits....? |
I'll ask my daughter which of these she is...
You missed another category - the ones who love the game, start doing it because they want some pocket money and then realise they're quite good at it and progress.
I've come into contact with a lot of refs and ARs from grassroots up to FIFA qualified whilst she's been on her journey and I would safely say a maximum of 10% of them fit one of your categories.
Whereas football fans on the other hand... [Post edited 21 Oct 18:15]
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| Sat next to Ref from Sat - Farai Hallam on 18:39 - Oct 21 with 1473 views | Radlett_blue |
| Sat next to Ref from Sat - Farai Hallam on 18:15 - Oct 21 by Plums |
I'll ask my daughter which of these she is...
You missed another category - the ones who love the game, start doing it because they want some pocket money and then realise they're quite good at it and progress.
I've come into contact with a lot of refs and ARs from grassroots up to FIFA qualified whilst she's been on her journey and I would safely say a maximum of 10% of them fit one of your categories.
Whereas football fans on the other hand... [Post edited 21 Oct 18:15]
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You're right that most football fans find it impossible to be objective about refereeing during games involving their own team. A professional football match involves umpteen debatable decisions, most of which are relatively minor, that involve interpretation & opinion & the typical fan wants all those decisions to go in favour of their team. If this is a major decision - penalty, red card, goal - the level is cranked up hugely & the ref can't win. I bet, at the end of a game, the fans of both teams are convinced that the ref had a bias against their team. | |
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| Sat next to Ref from Sat - Farai Hallam on 18:41 - Oct 21 with 1465 views | armchaircritic59 |
I'll probably get dogs abuse :), but I think the best ref in the country. No ones perfect, he was let down by his assistants Saturday which didn't help either. Glad to hear he's a nice guy too, comes over as such. |  | | |
| Sat next to Ref from Sat - Farai Hallam on 18:58 - Oct 21 with 1431 views | Number22 |
His one referee that has played the pro game at Stevenage... great bloke, was a strong leader and developer at the FA prior to his EFL days. Done a lot for the young potential CORE programme. [Post edited 21 Oct 19:01]
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| Sat next to Ref from Sat - Farai Hallam on 19:07 - Oct 21 with 1388 views | Mullet |
Just be grateful he saw you |  |
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| Sat next to Ref from Sat - Farai Hallam on 19:45 - Oct 21 with 1282 views | ArnoldMoorhen |
| Sat next to Ref from Sat - Farai Hallam on 14:18 - Oct 21 by Nutkins_Return |
I wrote about this before.
Deal with a lot of refs when coaching including a lot of young teenagers starting out in coaching. Most of them are still playing themselves but are really switched on young people (not all - some are pushed by their parents I think for good reasons to help with their confidence/experience). One I deal with a lot is also a goalkeeper and coaches by a top pro himself and is now coaching my keeper to pass on what he has learnt. Just a top person.
Some of these young kids are fantastic and for the most part I think it's human nature that when they are really good at something (and hopefully get real encouragement and positive reinforcement from good coaches and not the tw#ts) they probably just enjoy it.
Like most of us they don't make it in the game itself but can maybe make it as a ref. As the OP says I think the vast majority are probably really good people. Like anything when you make it to the top a bit of ego might creep in.
Also like anything you always get a few bad uns. |
To be fair to them, they also have to spend the most high profile part of their professional life under the lens of multiple TV cameras, whilst mic'ed up, with 30,000 shouting at them...
...whilst trying to explain things to professional footballers.
Now some professional footballers are decent human beings, but even they, when the testosterone is pumping, are prone to point blank aggressively lying.
And that's the good ones.
Imagine having Lee Bowyer in your face snarling at you because you gave an indirect free kick at the halfway line against him. | | | |
| Sat next to Ref from Sat - Farai Hallam on 21:36 - Oct 21 with 1097 views | ITFC_Forever |
| Sat next to Ref from Sat - Farai Hallam on 18:15 - Oct 21 by Plums |
I'll ask my daughter which of these she is...
You missed another category - the ones who love the game, start doing it because they want some pocket money and then realise they're quite good at it and progress.
I've come into contact with a lot of refs and ARs from grassroots up to FIFA qualified whilst she's been on her journey and I would safely say a maximum of 10% of them fit one of your categories.
Whereas football fans on the other hand... [Post edited 21 Oct 18:15]
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Both my daughters umpire netball, which is a handy bit of pocket money for teenagers, especially if you do half a dozen a month.
Netball is slightly different to football in that the vast majority of players, coaches and spectators are much more respectful ….. although that hasn’t stopped the youngest especially (16) going up to groups of parents and telling them she’s in charge, has done the umpiring courses and is responsible for applying the rules and not them, and if they want to do the course and qualify there’s nothing to stop them signing up on line.
One guy annoyed her a few weeks ago, and she was saying about it on the way home, I said next time, point him and I’ll go and ask him which one his daughter is and proceed to tell him how badly she’s playing. If he says I can’t do that, then I’ll say you’ve just spent your time doing that to mine… when he denies it and says which is she, I’ll tell him she’s the umpire. |  |
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| Sat next to Ref from Sat - Farai Hallam on 04:34 - Oct 22 with 853 views | KBsSocks |
| Sat next to Ref from Sat - Farai Hallam on 18:41 - Oct 21 by armchaircritic59 |
I'll probably get dogs abuse :), but I think the best ref in the country. No ones perfect, he was let down by his assistants Saturday which didn't help either. Glad to hear he's a nice guy too, comes over as such. |
Interesting stories from you and OP, ty both - I kept a special eye out in the game for said ref, and was impressed. Linesmen, nah ! |  |
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| Sat next to Ref from Sat - Farai Hallam on 11:13 - Oct 22 with 524 views | Deano69 |
| Sat next to Ref from Sat - Farai Hallam on 17:50 - Oct 21 by Nthsuffolkblue |
Whilst I am sure that must play into it for a lot of them, I would add in:
Realise there is no match without any officials. |
Fair point, well made. | |
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