Issued my first, ever, yellow card today.
Great game, Millfield U16Bs, bolstered by some 5ths, v Kings Taunton 2nd XI. Thoroughly enjoyed refereeing it, game ebbed and flowed, finished 3-3 with both sides leading at some time. Millfield grabbed an equaliser 3 minutes from time. A deserved score, Millfield played some lovely, cultured passing football, King’s Taunton were a little bigger, more physical and employed route one. A clash of styles on a slippery surface.
Last 30 seconds of the first half, and KT broke, their speedy left winger collecting the ball outside the area and accelerating towards the byline. “Michael” (we’ll leave it at that to preserve his anonymity) raced across the meet him and scythed him down 5 yards outside the corner of the box.
The tackle was about 2 weeks late, could possibly have warranted a sending off, but probably not at this level. I reached for my cards – but they had stuck together, so I rather gingerly showed him the yellow, conscious that the red was stuck to the back. I feared if I brandished it too vigorously others might see the rear of the card and think that I had sent him off!
Anyway, a first! Perhaps a line in the sand has been crossed and I’ll be reaching for my pocket with regularity in the future …?