It was a cr@p pitch, rubbish ball (too many too soft, not enough available to keep the game going each time one got hoofed into the neigbouring field or lost in a hedge, so lots of delays for restarts – cue complaints from the away team that I should sort it out(!)), poor players – blues won ‘cos they had a player with a loooong throw and a few big men to get on the end of it, neither team could string more than 4 passes together, and I doubt one side retained possession for more than 30 seconds at any one time. And, quite probably, the ref wasn’t much good, but I think he was possibly one of the least worst factors in a pretty rubbish game.
The players I can cope with – most of the whinging & whining is through frustration and I have the tools (chat, cards etc.) to deal with that. No, what bugged me was the spectators, of both sides. Perhaps it was because the sun was shinning, the first afternoon to feel the warmth of the sun on your skin for some months, but I was surprised how many turned out to watch such a low level league match.
I gave a corner – ‘cos that’s what I thought it was, some players disagreed, who knows, maybe I was right, maybe I was wrong, but the players accepted it and we all got ready for the corner (for greens (away side)). As I was taking up my position a (green) supporter, inline with me, looking directly at me, told me to “F$ck 0ff”. Blow the whistle to hold up play. Head over to home team manger to tell him what happened “He’s an away supporter, nothing to do with me” (Home team manager was a bit of a wet blanket all afternoon) I think it is his responsibility , but realise he ‘aint going to do anything, so call green captain over, explain what has happened, tell him its not acceptable. To be fair green captain goes over, bollocks him (he obviously knows him) and on the whole he’s quiet for the rest of the game.
Midway into 2nd half, give a free kick to blues. Set the ball down, walk the wall back 10 yrds. Move to my position ready to blow, blues complain wall isn’t back 10. I had my eyes on the wall the whole time, its not moved, blues may have moved ball forward – but I didn’t see that, if they have they’ve penalised themselves as they are now closer to the wall. I blow the whistle and ball ends up in car park.
Goal kick duly taken, hoofed down the pitch, bounces off a few heads (& knees, and shins etc) before going off for a blue throw in their half, near their “fans.” At which point I hear one bloke (not exactly sure who, but I think of pensionable age, certainly not some young hot head) say (again, so I could hear) “well, the ref can’t even count 10 yards”. To be fair, one of the green players rolled his eyes and said something along the lines of “that wasn’t necessary” as I pointedly looked over to the home support with my best teacher stare. Throughout the game I kept hearing snide, questioning comments from this group of young women and old men.
As I say, players I can cope with, and deal with. But I am left thinking what right do those people (spectators) have to hurl insults and abuse at me, and then shirk back into the crowd. Cowards.
For the first time, I have today wondered why I bother (and I suspect many of our brethren receive far worse). The football was rubbish, the highlight a moment of mediocrity. If it was like this every week I’d pack it in. But its not – yesterday I had a great 2 and half hours officiating some U16 trial games for a local League 2 side, tomorrow I’m back at an U15 side were they (players & parents alike) are more than grateful to have a half competent ref.
Oh, and to cap it all, as I blew the final whistle I thought “right, shake hands with everyone, get your dosh, and go”. But no, I then had to hang around for 10 minutes whilst the home team manager (remember him?) collected in his players subs to get enough cash to pay me my well earned £25.
