PROMOTION!

I arrived home from work this evening to find a letter which when I opened it was from Nottinghamshire FA. I read it and quickly learned that it was regarding my promotion from Level 7 to Level 6!

I was really pleased with this, my first step up at this level. I didn't publicise it though as to most experienced referee's, the step up from Level 7 to 6 is perhaps not the most challenging one, to the point where if you apply for it, you're more than likely going to get it. I could be wrong though but I was still pleased to progress.

Me and Milly went to the Half Moon for a celebratory meal, which I hope will become a tradition! Now for Level 5!

Stand up tall!

My CML appointment this week came late as I replaced another official a week or two prior to this game. I was told to leave my Church Warsop scarf at home! - a play on the fact that I'm from the next village, when typically you travel some distance for games, albeit this one was in Dronfield anyway, some 20 miles away.

I was to be junior official to Neil Howard, with Peter Bailey on the opposite line. I'd not met Peter before but had seen Neil 3 or 4 times at The Swan on a Saturday afternoon so it was good to put a name to a face.

This one got off to an interesting start as a number of Church Warsop players travelling together had an accident and so couldn't make it to the ground, leaving CWFC with just 8 available players. They came to see what they could do and were informed that they had to play as the minimum to start with was 8. They tried to make an emergency signing to get the manager available but the deadline had passed, though they found out that the assistant was registered so that gave them 9. They also managed to contact an U18 player who lived close by who set off and arrived after 30 minutes.

That left Dronfield with half an hour with a 2 man advantage, over a team that were already 3 places off the bottom, whilst the home side are fighting for the title. Still, despite much Dronfield pressure, they couldn't find a way through. They had few shots at goal and were made to work hard against the 9 men camped in their own box. The story was the same when the CWFC 10th man arrived and joined his teammates on the pitch.

The possession stats must've been high in Dronfield's favour yet they were hardly troubling the away goalkeeper. As the minutes ticked by, Dronfield were left frustrated as they just couldn't find their way past to get any clear shots on target and could even have lost it towards the end as the lone Church Warsop striker had a few chances running at the last defender but was only able to try from distance, never coming close.

Eventually the whistle sounded for a very surprising 0-0 result, which I later read was the first time I had officiated in a game that had ended 0-0 in all of my 156 matches to date.

I had relatively little to do in both halves, even though most of the action in the second half was in front of me. I made sure I signalled correctly and was always in line with the second last defender etc. I received a good piece of advice at half time when the referee's missus, who was also a referee and an assessor said for me to stand up tall when looking along the line as I have a tendancy to lean forward to look closer at any action that looks like it may be close - offside, fouls etc.

These words rang in my ears in the second half and it registered with me how often in a game I do lean forward and so each time I did I stood up straight and I'm sure that from now on I will take notice of these words which will surely help me in my quest to take my refereeing further.

Ouch!

To start the day off today I had 2 games at Bothamsall, as Walesby Juniors U12 played FC '05 Bilsthorpe, before Walesby's U14 side played Glapwell FC, who I used to know as Skegby Colts when I was a manager in this age group. I was also originally down to do the Walesby U16 game against Lowdham Colts too but there's only so much I can do before heading off for my senior game! I was surprised actually to find myself down for 3 11-aside games this weekend, but released the third game quite early on.

The FC 05 side was the same that I had done last week in the Notts Shield semi final so as that competition usually ends with teams of a high standard, felt that they would probably go on to win quite convincingly. As it were, they were 1-0 down after 28 seconds! Having seen this Walesby side a couple of times this year, they're quite reliant on a quick, talented striker and it was him causing the problems again.

The lead didn't last long though as 2 minutes later Bilsthorpe equalised, and went ahead about 15 minutes after this. Walesby replied shortly before half time to make it 2-2 at the break.

On a personal note, I was struggling this weekend as I knocked my knee playing football last weekend and it hadn't recovered at all over the last 5 or 6 days and was causing me a lot of pain as I ran. I decided not to put myself through it too much, as I was concerned for my afternoon game so felt I could do these 2 games with very little running. I could see most of the action from around the centre of the pitch, especially at these age groups and so I didn't need to be on top of play all the time.

I controlled the game quite well from a slightly central position and was glad when I could blow for full time for this first game. It ended 4-3 to Bilsthorpe in a result which looked as though it had surprised most as it appeared that they had expected a much easier game but Walesby had made them work really hard for all 3 points.

The second game was a little more one sided as Walesby had only brought 9 players and were facing top of the league Glapwell. They defended well to start with and had kept it at 0-0 for about 12 minutes before Glapwell eventually took the lead. They controlled the game from then on and were 6-0 up at half time. They then continued this performance into the second half, coming out 10-0 victors at the end, a little harsh on the home side who had worked hard.

I was ready to finish by the time this game had ended as my knee was really causing me a lot of grief and I was quite concerned that I would not be able to do my afternoon fixture in Dronfield. I did though learn that I am just as capable of refereeing youth games at a distance and don't always need to be on top of play, though this is a habit I don't want to fall out of, especially in my more senior games.