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For me, the request that I kept an eye on the technical areas was his opening comment. He wanted me to approach the half way line after 43 minutes with the time cards (not the flashy number board we see in the top flight) await his signal, which would either be fingers indication on his shorts or arm movement similar to that of a boxing referee counting out a fallen boxer. Having confirmed the number, it needed to be shown to the crowd on 45 minutes.
Well that seemed pretty straightforward, so with no further questions, "have a good game" was exchanged by each of us as the referee then rang the bell to advise the teams that it was time to take to the field. We made for the tunnel and as the others then went onto the pitch, I took my three spare balls and took up my solitary seat between the two dugouts.
The match kicked off on time and after about a quarter of an hour the Nuneaton Borough substitutes took to the touchline, running up and down for a couple of minutes before then standing down by the corner flag watching the match. As there was no further interest in "warming up", I waited for a while not wanting to over react, but decided to approach the visitors bench and ask that if the substitutes were not warming up, they should return to the technical area. The retort was along the lines of 'yeah yeah ref, go and sit down and watch the game". Having watched in that previous week, the incident with Chelsea's Gianlucca Vialli and the fourth official at a European cup match I was keen to keep the matter in perspective, so as the coach then called to his substitutes to warm up and then return to the dugout, I returned to my seat.
I noted the timings and players recipients of yellow cards as well as the opening goal for the visitors in the 43rd minute. Impeccable timing I thoughts as I was just making for the touchline to await notice of the extra time for the first half. As the referee placed two fingers on his shorts I keenly pulled out the number two card and proceeded to display it a minute too early, which was pointed out by the referee at the half time interval. A slip I was certain of not making at the end of the second half
The interval cup of tea was shared with the three "active" officials qualifying their decisions and cautions and assessments of various other players that were close to possibly collecting cautions. An interesting experience to say the least.
For the second half, the excitement came in the 66th minute as Sutton equalised following a substitution, for which I was at last part of the action. My activity increased as Sutton made a second substitution minutes later. The Nuneaton manager calling to me with the two numbers of players to be exchanged with 8 minutes to go followed this. Tactical or otherwise, that substitution saw the visitors snatch what was to be the winner two minutes later. Just as I made for the halfway line in the 87th minute, Sutton's manager called out the relative numbers for a final substitution, which then took place, whilst at the same time I was watching for my signal from the referee. With just a minute remaining, the referee belatedly signalled for 3 minutes to be the extra time played. This was duly acknowledged, however I was not going to display it until the right time this half.
With a possible time wasting tactic in mind the visitors coach asked for a second player replacement in the final minute, after which I displayed the 3 minute board at the second my watch reached 90 minutes. This was greeted with a few wolf whistles from the crowd together with a shout from the Sutton coach clarifying that the 3 minutes were from the moment I raised the card. I felt comforted that this was more in view of his desire to get an equaliser, rather than any reference to the first half timings.
Sadly the activity had not yet finished as the second caution was issued to a Sutton player in the last minute of the match.
The return to the dressing room was where the post mortem took its final chapter before sandwiches, tea and showers were had by all. It was pleasing to have the referees approval of each of the three assistants efforts, especially from a personal perspective, that my second half signalling and handling of the substitutions had been very good. The arrival of the Sutton official. With the expenses rounded of the day to an interesting experience as fourth official.
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