15 and Out!

My 6th official game for my Sunday side, Hucknall Rangers against Nottingham Knights, became my last as a referee for a few reasons. Coming off the back of some heavy criticism in the last match for them against Linney Group on 25th October, I felt this game had gone a lot better. Rangers had won 15-0 and I didn't have many things to do other than award a couple of clear penalties in Hucknall's favour and caution a very lippy defender. But following this match, I was still criticised by a couple of Hucknall players, who I'd considered mates for the past couple of years, so thought enough was enough.

I'd taken on the task of officiating for Hucknall as a favour to manager and good friend Leon, saving him the task of tracking down a much sought after official every other week, saving him a little money in the process, whilst giving me some extra valuable experience reffing at this level (and some extra cash), as well as staying on the scene with the team whilst I recovered from my broken ankle.

After 2 seasons with AFC Hucknall, the team had been disbanded and reformed under a new name but with many of the same lads as before but there were a lot of new faces so it was good to stay amongst them, rather than not play a part at all until I had fully recovered as the task of trying to get back into the team with a lot of unknowns would have been much harder.

This game itself could have been a lot more had it not been for some wasteful play in front of goal, but I think 15-0 was hard enough on the opposition!

Linney

One of my first games this season refereeing for my Sunday side Hucknall Rangers, was a pre-season game against a newly formed side Linney Group from Mansfield. It was a good chance to see what the opposition would be like as Hucknall would be facing them twice at least in the forthcoming campaign in the league. Hucknall came out of the game having little to fear, winning 3-2 - albeit comfortably and it probably could have been more but for some wasteful finishing. Hucknall's side on that day consisted of very few first team players as they tend to only come out during the actual season so have an extended break whilst the friendlies are being played.

Linney group had began the season struggling. Their side is mainly made up of either ageing, overweight or injured players, who have an obvious love for the game but are well out of their depths at this level. They were getting stuffed left, right and centre, often by double figures and there was little to debate that Hucknall wouldn't do the same to them again today, especially after the very positive start Hucknall had made. That being said, no team should be taken lightly and this was the mistake the Hucknall manager made going into this game. It was as if this game was a given and 3 points were as good as won, whilst the goal difference would be severely boosted.

As it went, Linney had a better start at least than most could imagine. I played my part in infuriating the Hucknall lads at the start by not bringing back 2 or 3 early foul throws as I didn't want to spoil the continued flow of the game. A couple of them were borderline anyway so may not have been given by other refs whilst at least one was quite blatantly a foul throw, which was appealed against but as Hucknall won the ball from it I allowed play to continue.

Hucknall were playing poorly and this resulted in Linney taking a surprise 1-0 lead and shortly after were 2-0 up. The flag did go up at one point when the ball was played through for the second goal but it wasn't clear who was being given offside as one lad had made a run from his own half and the clearer offside player had stopped. I had to speak to the linesman before giving the goal, who hadn't dropped his flag but he pointed out it was the player who stopped who he was giving offside against and that the goal should stand. The Hucknall lads were enraged at this decision, albeit the right one, but also were directing a lot of their furore at me for not pulling them up sooner for the bad throws. I made sure I pulled them up the next time which I didn't have to wait long for. Hucknall then began to throw everything at their opponents to get back into the game but at the same time, appealed against anything and everything.

From a corner, Linney cleared the box but Hucknall centre back Lee Weir met the ball with a stinging half volley that was blocked just a few yards in front of him by a Linney defender and claims of handball were voiced. I had a clear view and knew it hadn't struck the hand but even if so, the player was too close to there the ball was struck from he'd've not been able to get hands out of the way had it hit him, unless they were in an unnatural position, ie, above shoulder height etc. I turned the appeal down much to the home sides disgust.

A second appeal was turned down a few minutes later when close friend of mine Chris Taylor had burst into the box and was running along the byline before attempting to play the ball back into the box for a teammate, but his last touch before the cross meant he was having to stretch to reach the ball and it was cleared before he could quite make it. This led to an air-shot which meant he fell sidewards, which made the majority of the Hucknall players and coaches claim for a penalty and look even more disgusted than the first time when I rejected their appeals. It was evident they were after whatever they could get and were desperate with losing to such a poor side but as well as having clearly seen no offense, it was the easiest decision I've had to make due to the fact there was no appeal from the player himself, who I've known for over 20 years and had there been even a 1% chance of a penalty, he would have been the first one I would've heard! I've rejected clear penalties against him before and been reminded of them for months after so I know had this one been a decision to be made he would have been the first to tell me.

Hucknall did get one back before half time and halfway through the second half, their relentless pressure eventually led to the equaliser. This gave them a lot of confidence and the run of the game did look as though there was only going to be one winner from here. However, Hucknall became over confident and started to lose shape with every player from the front to the back pushing forward in search of the next goal. With all the space in behind the Hucknall defence due to them pressing, Linney could afford to play on the counter and long ball later, led to their striker being put clean through. The big Hucknall keeper started to come out and I was myself surprised to see the striker hit it from about 25 yards out when he could've got a lot closer to goal. It wasn't a great strike, with very little behind it but it found it's way past the keeper to out Linney 3-2 up with about 15 minutes to go.

Everything now was being hit into the Linney box from every angle but little was being made of them and it looked like they were going to remain frustarted throughout. A corner in the final minute had been headed towards the line but scrambled clear, and of course, this was followed by appeals of a goal but it hadn't crossed the line. I was being berated from every angle now, even people I'd class as close friends were now on my back but I don't know what I was being expected to do, I couldn't simply give them a free goal because this was my team. A second corner followed as we entered injury time and this time it was headed over the line, only just as the keeper got across to scoop it out from the goal but this time the goal was awarded and almost from the kick off I blew for full time.

Their was disgust and disappointment throughout, both from Linney for not having held out for their first win, instead this was their first draw, but Hucknall were fuming they had dropped points against such mediocre opposition. I bore the brunt of their anger, with me clearly being made the scapegoat for the result. The management couldn't even look at me after the game, which was gutting as these were 2 lads I had been very close to for the past couple of years. I could feel my time being part of this club wearing thin, I even began doubting my own performance.

After the game I took a lot of time reflecting on it as I didn't want it to be something that held me back in the future. I didn't want it to stop me refereeing in the future as at this point I had started thinking of taking it as far as I could but the only mistakes I felt I made were not pulling back the foul throws at the start of the game. In the end, I didn't let it affect my mind and when I look back at this game I'll use it as evidence that in this game you certainly can't please anyone, not even those closest to you. I won't set out to do so in the future, not that I had in this and I'll never hold myself responsible for the result of any game. The players and the managers need to look a lot closer at themselves before wagging fingers my way again.

Away Hammering

I took my 3rd Hucknall Rangers official match of the season but this time it was away to Clifton, played near Boots' HQ in Beeston, filling in as Clifton couldn't get another referee. I spoke to their manager when I arrived who thanked me for being able to ref the game and was happy that I was a registered Hucknall player.

It was an easier game to referee than it was to watch as Clifton ran out 7-1 winners. They played great football and the Hucknall side had many lads in who had not played much together and so found it hard to gel or get any sort of rhythm together.

No complaints from either side over my performance so that can only be a positive thing and helps me further my progression and experience.

Captain Gobby!

My second game in charge officially of a Hucknall Rangers match was against recognised opponents in New Venture. This was a team that we had played a fair few times over the past couple of seasons and every game was a close affair. They'd got the better of us once last season, whilst we'd had experience of victory against them, so it was assumed this tie would be just as difficult and could go either way.

Venture turned up late to the point where it looked as though they wouldn't make it for the allowed time, which is 45 minutes after the arranged kick off time and with Leon, the Hucknall manager not able to get hold of the opposition, the points let set to go to the home side. However, just a few minutes before the deadline, they rolled into the car park apologetically as there had been issues with the team meaning a bare 11 had been able to turn up and without a manager.

I spoke to the captain who had asked for some time to warm up and then we were good to go. He sounded a decent chap, someone I could get on with and wouldn' get much aggro from in the game but how wrong can I be?! Hucknall had taken an early lead and this had gotten his back up and shortly after he was fending off the pressure in his own box from Jimmy, Hucknall's winger who is one of the smallest senior players you're likely to come up against. I'd seen Jimmy put his hand in the lower back of the Venture captain but there was no pressure applied so there was nothing to call and so I was surprised to see him fall to the floor whilst appealing for a push. I'd waved him up and said there was nothing in it but he protested. I foolishly commented that Jimmy was only 'this big' (whilst indicating the height with my hand of someone about 3 foot nothing) which really got his back up. I didn't think he'd take it to heart and so for the entire game he used my comments against every decision I made. He was constantly on at me and I had tried to apologise but he was having none of it. There was nothing else I could do so I left him to his whineing.

His verbal torrents continued and began quickly to take the focus of the match away from his teammates who on numerous occasions asked him to shut up and get on with the game, which he took no notice of. Hucknall used this to their advantage and raced into a 4-1 half time lead. Whilst I was being accused of being totally against New Venture, their goal incedently came from a penalty which I had awarded for handball against a Hucknall defender.

He continued his protests during half time so I took him to one side to try to apologise for my comment again but he continued moaning so I simply said that I was't prepared to just take his mouth for the next 45 minutes so if he couldn't speak to me properly I would have no hesitation but to caution him. The Hucknall management had told me to get him in the book if he persists and not to take it but I simply said it was in their favour and I was happy to have him chewing my ear off if it made him feel better, I didn't mind.

The second half started as the first had ended, Hucknall dominant and Venture's captain moaning. Hucknall made it 5-1 and soon after I called the captain over and enough was enough, he was in the book. This kept him quite quiet for the rest of the game, he picked up again in the last 5 minutes but I wasn't going to send him off. I did feel for his side having no real leadership as their manager had let them down and they had no subs etc but this was no excuse for his behaviour. They pulled one back late on for 5-2 before Hucknall went 6-2 up. The way the game had gone was obviously haveing an effect on the other Venture players and soon after the 6th Hucknall goal, I did have to send one packing after he violently kicked out at a Hucknall player after losing the ball. It was vicious and I had no hesitation showing him the red but I was surprised to see his shock at the colour of the card.

Near the end of the game, I noticed the Venture captain on the floor holding his jaw and he made out that a Hucknall defender had struck him. In any other circumstance I would have believed him and tried to find anyone else to back his story up before dealing with the defender but on this occasion I knew he was pulling a fast one. I spoke to the linesman on the near side who said he hadn't been struck, but this was a Hucknall representative so I expected no less. I thought I would get more from Leon, the Hucknall manager but in an Arsene Wenger approach, he didn't see it! I could only then speak to the player in question who said he hadn't punched him but that the captain had been making reference to the fact that he was Polish and so he'd simply pushed him away. I gave him a caution for admitting a push but as I hadn;t seen it, this was purely for the Venture captains benefit and I didn't submit the caution after the game.

The game ended 6-3 as an admittedly soft penalty was awarded to New Venture with time almost out and the game finally ended. The captain then surprised all by turning into Mr Nice Guy and apologising for his behaviour and then tried to get out of his caution. He asked whether I would send it in, which I said of course. This annoyed him and he tried to plead with me insisting that I send the red in for violent conduct but not his. I wasn't going to back down and simply said it was going in to which he replied he was going to complain about my performance to which I was happy with and even offered him the email address of who it would need to go to. Needless to say, he didn't take it!

First Hucknall Game

Other than a few friendlies in pre-season and a couple of unofficial matches in the past couple of years, I lined up to take charge of my first official match for Hucknall Rangers in what would be a tough game against their biggest rivals, Bedstead.

I didn't know if it would be easier or more difficult to referee for my own team, as I knew they would expect more decisions to go their way but I had to remain unbiased and call the game as I saw it. I'd felt in the past that I would give more to the opposition when reffing for my own sides as not to look biased but knowing the opponents were not aware that I was officiating for a team I was registered for, I felt comfortable calling every decision as I saw it, whether either side were happy with the calls or not.

This match went really well in terms of my own performance. Hucknall were beaten 3-0 and could have no complaints as they were just not strong enough to match the quality of their rivals and no-one looked at me for the result. I'd called the match as I;d saw it and there was no real decisions I had to make so there was nothing to be frustrated about. I'd hope this was to be a sign for the rest of the season, but with better results for Hucknall.