Having played Amateur Football with St.Sebastians , St.Bonifaces and Salford Teachers plus a few guest apperences for Trustee Savings Bank and The Grapes I went into refereeing from 1989 until 2012. I will be telling some Football stories in this section. 

Yellow and Red Cards. Always an Interesting area for Referees. In reality it is the players who commit the offences and yet the Referee gets the blame. I also felt that if you get it right the player will accept it without complaint. The hard part comes when the player wants to pull a fast one which can normally backfire on the player when the report goes in. 

One referee I came across who requested a player's name replied with Micky Mouse. Rather than cause a scene he just said "Thank you Mr. Mouse" and carried on with the game. As well as giving a wrong name the club would then have to explain why he wasn't on the team sheet and  inform the F. A. of his real name. Giving a false name is an extra offence on top of the original fine while the Clubs failure to list the correct names could also face disciplinary action for the situation caused by the player. You might be tempted to say the referee should have stood his ground but that could have delayed the game and even embarrassed the Referee had it turned out he was Michael Mouse. Another Referee asked a player's name who was called George Best and was on the team sheet. It turned out that was his name.

A young referee I was coaching had a brawl in his first game of adult football. The perpetrator was huge and scary and had just bashed an opponent. The lad was scared but did the right thing. He requested his name, and said  he was being sent off for vioent conduct and would be reported to the Lancashire F.A.He showed the red card and the offender slammed his arm on the refs shoulder in an always friendly way  and simply said "You're right" and left the field.The ref admitted it was a harrowing experience but won the day. 

One game I was refereeing I  saw a player attack another player who was trying to avoid trouble.The offender told me where to go. The victim genuinely tried to avoid the confrontation but everyone saw it as a fight. Naturally I sent him off and cautioned the other player for what I told him was a diplomatic caution. It wouldn't be reported but if he got involved again I would count it as a second yellow and he would be sent off. The diplomacy here was pacifying the players and supporters that both players were dealt with.No issues with him but the player sent of was boasting to all his friends he'd been sent off. I did think about no cards at all as it was what we described as a handbag fight and could have been resolved with a calming down and a verbal warning but realised by his language that he wanted to be sent off as he clearly thought it made him look hard. The point here is that not sending off could cause more trouble than showing the red  card and refereeing is about judging every incident on its own merits and applying common sense and diplomacy. Anyone from Football authorities need to appreciate it was not a violent immediate red card and more of a show by the offender. I would always issue a red card for violent conduct. 

Many years ago I Sent a player off and a suspension followed for the replay in a County Cup Competition.I was not on the replay but the suspended player scored a hatrick  in the replay. He would have got away with that but it was in the local press, complete with his name so the team slipped up on that one. .

I was refereeing a game in which the offender was sent off for a headbutt. After the game he asked me why I sent him off and I said it would be in the report. I didn't want to get involved with the specified offences as I wasn't sure he would understand. After continuous asking I said it was for  Violent conduct and he replied does that mean it was for the headbutt. I'd already mentioned Violent conduct when I issued the card but I suppose in the heat of the moment he wouldn't have taken that in.

In one game I was an assistant Referee in a semi pro and after a careless challenge saw the referee issue a yellow card. I saw it as justified and made a note as part of my assistant duties. In the clubhouse at the end of the game the offender approached the referee to explain he'd given the name of another player thinking he was the one cautioned. Totally ridiculous but a variety of scenarios could play out on that. Was the name given already awaiting disciplinary action where the caution could cause an extended suspension or was he just stupid.The referee left the name on his report but added the conversation in the clubhouse. The County F A. Would sort that one out as the original caution was carried out in the correct manner and giving a false name is a second offence effectively turning into a red card for disciplinary purposes 

Press Reports In my playing days I used to write reports for the Local Press. The papers, being on a local and low budget were happy to print whatever we wrote so on realising that and being pitched against  Industrial teams over the years gave lots of opportunities for some fun. In the TSB and Barclays Bank games we used to open the account, in the teams interest they brought on the substitutes and were robbed in the last minute. British Gas had a team and we often put the pressure on them. Kellogs flaked out towards the end of the game following some crunching tackles and of course Salford Teachers taught the opposition a lesson after they'd done their homework and certainly made a mark on the game. 

The funniest one though was a sheer accident. The ball was passed out to the wing and as it was crossed they potted the black. It had clearly been  mixed up by the snooker game in the adjacent column. That was none of my doing but it did make us all laugh 

Hit with the Ball There is a thin dividing line between being too close to play and being up with play. I remember on one ocassion at Burnley GSOB who took a corner. It was low to the near post and the fullback hit it full on the volley straight at me. I was on the edge of the area and the ball hit me  in the knee and went back over the dead all line. Referees have to make a decision based on Laws of the Game and in those days ( this Law has now been changed) it was a corner because the referee was seen as part of the game. While a defender hit the ball at me and was the last player to touch it I pointed to the corner.They went berserk as in their eyes it had been cleared.

Of course the Ref getting hit with a ball is a real crowd pleaser. I was too close to play at Hindsford in the Manchester League and two players went for the ball rather forcibly and it flew full on into my face. As a referee you cannot shows signs of weakness and despite purple stars before my eyes I just kept going.21 players were in fits of laughter,two managers and a small crowd. The Hindesford Captain asked if I was alright. I said fine keep going. What a nice comforting gesture.It was a far cry from the modern check for concussion.Fortunately I got away with that as far as I know.

Controversy. It cannot be many referees who claim controversy never happened. My biggest controversial decision was a game involving Ainsworth F.C. in the Lancashire Amateur League. Ainsworth were losing two-onr with around two minutes to go. The game was well contested and nothing to say we will all shake hands at the end. 

Ainsworth were awarded an indirect free kick for obstruction (This Law is now outdated). I said to the goalkeeper it's indirect. I told the taker it was indirect and held my hand up to show it was indirect and blew the Whistle. The taker totally ignoring my advice hit the ball over the wall. The goalkeeper also ignored my advice and tried to save it. He got his hand to the ball pushing it into the side netting inside the goal. Ainsworth  were celebrating the goal as I pointed to the six yard box indicating a goal kick because the ball crossed the line before the keeper touched it. I tried explaining it to both teams but even then Ainsworth claimed if it wasn't a goal it must be a corner. I was even told by one angry Ainsworth player to blow for time as it was obvious I didn't want them to win. I fully understood their anxiety at the decision but at the same time thought it was totally right in the series of.events and possibly my best decision ever because it was both right and brave. Giving the goal would have been the easier option as it was unlikely anyone from the other team would contest it.

In my capacity of assessor and mentor I saw a rather unusual incident. A player was being substituted. It was a junior game at under 14 level. As the substitute was leaving the field of play an opponent shouted " ther're substituting you because you're rubbish" He responded by hitting him. The referee issued a red card for violent conduct but allowed the substitute coming on to play. The referee allowed the substitute to play because in his opinion the substitution had been made and the leaving substitute was now a spectator. However as he had not left the field the Law would suggest the Substitution hadn't been made thus depriving the opposition  of playing against ten men. The team with the sent of player were losing 5-0 . As I was in my F.A.tie and official capacity I was approached by the manager of the winning team suggesting the referee was wrong. In theory he was but in my opinion the spirit of the law rather than it's literal translation should take precedence  I had to think quickly on this unfortunate situation. I asked him why did he run a Junior Football team. He couldn't answer that so I suggested it was to give young people an opportunity to play football. He agreed so I asked him if it was fair to deprive a young  player from playing because of the actions of someone else. He saw my point and I did point out he was winning 5-0. The whole incident was unfortunate but despite the Laws of the game not being applied correctly it was the right decision in the spirit of the game and in consideration of the age group..I cannot remember if the Referee cautioned the original perpetrator but he could have been cautioned as what was called ungentlemanly conduct back  n the day 

Weather Conditions Football conditions can throw up all kinds of situations..Waterlogged pitches are classic. If the Captain wins the toss and says they'll have the shallow end it may be time to think you shouldn't be playing this game. 

In my playing days our Field of Play was at Frederick Road Playing Fields (Aka David Lewis). It was right next to the River Irwell with appalling drainage. No one questioned whether the game should be called off despite us coming home smelling like a canal and having to dig out the lighter players at the end of the game. Those were the days but the modern game has come along way and more care is now taken to ensure conditions are right.

Heavy rain is something to be aware off in terms of safety. I went to my local  park a few years ago to watch my son. His game was called off but  other games were going ahead. After about 30 minutes a thunder storm struck.As the  lightning was hitting the one second mark one referee took the teams of to hide in the changing rooms. The other referee carried on. I was horrified that those children were put in a very vulnerable situation. I complimented the sensible referee and we  were both appaled at what was going on on the other field of play.

Pitch Inspections No one want to see a match postponed but sometimes it's common sense but for Referees it an area of great difficulty. My son aged 13 was a goalkeeper in a Junior game. As a parent I could see the frozen ground as potentially dangerous and had the same view with my referee hat on. We arrived at the game very early and I heard the home team manager tell the lads to get the nets up.quickly  before the ref arrives. With my instructors hat on I had a chat with the young referee and suggested he called the game off. His response was clearly based on the fact the nets were already up and he played the game. Several of the players came off because of the freezing conditions while the game itself was not good to watch as players struggled with football boots when they clearly needed ice skates. The strange thing about pitch Inspections is the rutted dry summer pitches go unnoticed and yet are as potentially dangerous as rutted ice. Maybe not as hard to fall on but a twisted ankle is a possibility on either rutted pitch.

Waterlogging is another area of contention. Back in the 70s our home pitch  (Officially called the field of play - instructors hat again) was a bog every week.Situated next to a river with poor drainage it was a shocking pitch for most of the season. We knew the areas to avoid playing the ball and we all accepted smelling like a canal when the game was over. There are even professional games from the era that were played  or continued on waterlogged pitches and we're a great spectacle. Today the professional games are benefitting from better drainage, under soil heating and well trained professional groundsmen.However, I was asked to inspect a field of play which was semi - frozen. The home team wanted the game postponed because it could cause damage for weeks to come and the visitors wanted to play because of a push for promotion. I took into account that the frozen area may defrost by Kick off but at that time of the year would be frozen by the second half. On the balance of all things considered I called the game off. 

When players inspect a pitch themselves it is always a good ploy to listen out for their comments. "We are not playing on this are we is a worry because if you play the game and someone gets injured as a result of the play are then the referee could find himself as part of a litigation.When the Captain wins the toss and says we will have the deep end one should at that wonder if you had made an error of judgement in playing the game.

Ashton Unitrd  v Skelmersdale - In season 2011-12 Ashton Unitrted's Gareth Morris scored one of the fastest goals in FA Cup history, netting after only four seconds against Skelmersdale. I was assistant  referee in that game. I put 7 seconds in my notebook but refused to tell thoseoin my touchline saying the decision would be the Referees. The ball was knocked forward then back to the goalscorer. It was a beautiful strike and seemed to hang in the air before dropping behind the goalkeeper. There was great expectation on the touchline so at half time I rushed onto the old to tell the ref to be ready with his answer. He said 4 seconds so I was glad I kept my 7 seconds to myself but even though f I was right it was still faster than Readings 10 seconds goal and Manchester City's 13 second goal. The M E.N camera man was still talking Ng his camera out of the bag and only photographed the celebration. I would like that to be recreated with technology to see if a 60 traditional lob from a forward , then back pass could be scored in 4 seconds . That is not to detract from the Referees decision or the skill if Ashton United. Shots direct from the half way line at ground level must travel at speed to be 4 seconds is more feasible than a lobbed shot from a backpass. Comments would be appreciated.