HertsFinest
Next Weeks Ref
I think this may be the first positive match incident I have shared.
Saturday morning after spending most of the night keeping tabs on the developing attrocities in Paris, I was toying whether or not to hold a minutes silence for the preceeding events. I knew the Football League would surely be forthcoming but with no email from the leagues that normally immediately notify us of such marks of respect i thought it best to reserve judgement until arriving at the community center in sleepy north Hertfordshire for my top of the table clash game.
Arriving I approached the home team manager and went through formalities. Team sheet fella? Match ball? Which one of those wants the flag?
I decided to inform the manager I would call his lads in 2 minutes early to hold a minutes silence and it was up to them as individuals to decide if they wished to partake or not. I repeated this with the away team manager.
At the time of blowing my whistle, not only did the home team and away team come to the Centre circle but their coaches, subs and spectators (there were only 8 or so from each) came onto the pitch, heads bowed and thanked me for providing the minutes silence as many had also expected advice from the league.
So there we stood in a field in the pouring rain and bitter wind in silent reflection and respect as a team of 40. Not as teams or refs or coaches or spectators; but as a group of British humans sharing our disgust at the events in Paris in perfect and reflective silence.
The game started and it was by a country mile the best contested, best mannered and most competitive game I've reffed with not a bad word uttered from anywhere.
The occassion was overshadowed by the feeling around us all and to the enourmous credit of both teams, they marked it with only the best and truest of British values and respect.
The game finished 3-2. There were no major celebrations afterwards but I did not see anybody not shake a hand. I had all 22 players 10 subs 4 coaches and 15 or so spectators shake my hand as they did for the rest of the congregation present
It is days like these that remind me what it is to share a passion for football and why I wear the shirt - as I facilitated something that nobody wanted to mention but everybody wanted to do to mark their respects.
Saturday morning after spending most of the night keeping tabs on the developing attrocities in Paris, I was toying whether or not to hold a minutes silence for the preceeding events. I knew the Football League would surely be forthcoming but with no email from the leagues that normally immediately notify us of such marks of respect i thought it best to reserve judgement until arriving at the community center in sleepy north Hertfordshire for my top of the table clash game.
Arriving I approached the home team manager and went through formalities. Team sheet fella? Match ball? Which one of those wants the flag?
I decided to inform the manager I would call his lads in 2 minutes early to hold a minutes silence and it was up to them as individuals to decide if they wished to partake or not. I repeated this with the away team manager.
At the time of blowing my whistle, not only did the home team and away team come to the Centre circle but their coaches, subs and spectators (there were only 8 or so from each) came onto the pitch, heads bowed and thanked me for providing the minutes silence as many had also expected advice from the league.
So there we stood in a field in the pouring rain and bitter wind in silent reflection and respect as a team of 40. Not as teams or refs or coaches or spectators; but as a group of British humans sharing our disgust at the events in Paris in perfect and reflective silence.
The game started and it was by a country mile the best contested, best mannered and most competitive game I've reffed with not a bad word uttered from anywhere.
The occassion was overshadowed by the feeling around us all and to the enourmous credit of both teams, they marked it with only the best and truest of British values and respect.
The game finished 3-2. There were no major celebrations afterwards but I did not see anybody not shake a hand. I had all 22 players 10 subs 4 coaches and 15 or so spectators shake my hand as they did for the rest of the congregation present
It is days like these that remind me what it is to share a passion for football and why I wear the shirt - as I facilitated something that nobody wanted to mention but everybody wanted to do to mark their respects.
