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That's it - I've had enough
Those of you who have known me for a while will be saying "yeh, yeh, heard that before". Every so often things get too much, I go home, ring everyone and tell them I'm chucking it in. Well, the latest was last Saturday.
I'd been to Ex-Blues in the Surrey Combination. They were playing Woodmansterne Sports (I use the word 'Sports' laughingly). The first half was OK except for their moronic manager shouting the odds. I tried to ignore him because I knew if I went and told him to stop he would just shout in my face. I knew if I gave him enough rope he'd hang himself. Sure enough, five minutes into the second half he shouted referee you're a "f**** disgrace". I went to him to do my duty and as predicted he shouted in my face. Having got rid of him the rest of the players decided they would like to have some of the same. I really cannot understand this reaction, instead of just getting on with the game they seem to think it's open season on the ref.
Well, back in my shoe box, I mean changing room, there was a knock at the door, it was the club assistant referee (why do we call them assistants when they do nothing of the sort) he explained that the manager was sorry and it was the heat of the moment. I told him in no uncertain terms that I didn't accept that because he does this all the time and so does the rest of his team. Just then the manager pokes his head in and without looking me in the eyes says sorry and offers his hand. I took it automatically and immediately wished I hadn't. He then had the gall to ask if I was going to sent the report in.
They both left me in peace. About a minute later the Assistant Referee knocks again. This time he tells me that one of his players was upset because he says I swore at him. I didn't know whether to laugh or cry. Apart from being a bare faced lie, I couldn't believe that one of the players was complaining to me about being sworn at after I had just faced a torrent of abuse from the very same person. I just laid into him. I told him that his player was a liar and if he's got a problem with that he can come and tell me himself. I told him that he was not much better, he was on the touchline and heard what went on and he was only feet away from the manager when he let loose. This is typical of clubs, they are always looking for someone else to blame for their own shortcomings, if it's not the referee it's the pitch or the ball or the opposition was cheating or the weather or even their own team mates, but never themselves.
Woodmansterne lost this game 2-4. The first goal was a penalty from an obvious hand ball, the second was blamed on the assistant referee "he must have been offside". The third was a poor pass to the goalkeeper which was intercepted by an attacking player and the fourth was an own goal, but still they would not accept, individually or collectively that it was their own fault.
The week before was sheer farce. Half way through the first half the away club assistant referee / team substitute decided he'd had enough from his own team and was not going to continue. He put the flag down and walked away without even a word. He went back to the changing rooms and got back into his civvies.
Ten minutes later the assistant referee on the other side wants to have a punch up with a player. I took the flag of him and told him to go away, he seemed to think it very amusing.
The replacement 'lino' was doing a fair job until he tripped and went face down in the dirt. Predictably everyone laughed. He got to his feet and threw MY flag to the ground. As one, several players called "ooh err". With this he shouted "I'm not having you f***ing laughing at me", threw my flag down again and stormed off. After about five minutes he came back and finished the match. I didn't get an apology for the treatment of my flag.
The week in between I received a letter from Surrey FA, I've been called to a hearing at Hill House. I couldn't understand, this was only a caution, so I made a telephone call to find out what was going on. The player had refused to give me his name so I noted his number and got it from the team sheet, not for the first time this season.
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