Mick
The Ref Aficionado.
League games against Oldham commenced in the early ‘60s and we have played them pretty regularly since. We hold a clear lead with 17 wins to their 13 with 10 draws. Their last visit to Roots Hall was almost exactly a year ago when a goal from Mooney was enough to clinch the 3 points. I guess that isn’t going to happen on Saturday.
Refereeing matters in the National League haven’t been anyone on here’s priority lately but there have been rather a lot of changes to the officials for the coming season. An unprecedentedly high number have been promoted to the Football League with 9 referees making this step up. Although most would be surprised that there were that many National League referees viewed as good enough, on the basis of what I’ve seen they’ve picked the best ones. In addition, a further two who performed well last season are on the ERDG (Development Group) and likely to spend a fair bit of time on the Football League.
Well, that leaves us with the rest of last year’s lot and a dozen promotions from the National Leagues North and South, predominantly North.
Saturday’s referee is Richie Watkins from Nuneaton. He is Chairman of the Nuneaton Referees Association and, having got a mid-season promotion at the start of this year, will be refereeing just his seventh National League match. Half of his six matches so far have involved Southend or Oldham. The Southend one was our away match at Boreham Wood last season when he awarded a ludicrous penalty which turned out to be the only goal of the match. He also cautioned Husin and Kensdale and a couple of theirs. There were suggestions that apart from the penalty he didn’t do too badly (I realise that is a bit like the “Apart from that Mrs Lincoln, how was the play?”).
Oldham were the beneficiaries of another penalty decision to give them their equaliser at Wealdstone where he also cautioned two apiece and no cards at all in Oldham’s home draw with Bromley right at the end of last season - meaning he’s doing two consecutive Oldham league matches.
Those six matches saw just 16 yellow cards and no reds.
Assisting will be regular visitor to the Hall, Andrew Gray from Ipswich and, with his first Southend appearance, newly promoted Christopher Darling from Cambridge. The latter is a PE teacher and prolific racer, doing marathons and other endurance sports. Fourth Official is Mark Pond from Basildon.
Refereeing matters in the National League haven’t been anyone on here’s priority lately but there have been rather a lot of changes to the officials for the coming season. An unprecedentedly high number have been promoted to the Football League with 9 referees making this step up. Although most would be surprised that there were that many National League referees viewed as good enough, on the basis of what I’ve seen they’ve picked the best ones. In addition, a further two who performed well last season are on the ERDG (Development Group) and likely to spend a fair bit of time on the Football League.
Well, that leaves us with the rest of last year’s lot and a dozen promotions from the National Leagues North and South, predominantly North.
Saturday’s referee is Richie Watkins from Nuneaton. He is Chairman of the Nuneaton Referees Association and, having got a mid-season promotion at the start of this year, will be refereeing just his seventh National League match. Half of his six matches so far have involved Southend or Oldham. The Southend one was our away match at Boreham Wood last season when he awarded a ludicrous penalty which turned out to be the only goal of the match. He also cautioned Husin and Kensdale and a couple of theirs. There were suggestions that apart from the penalty he didn’t do too badly (I realise that is a bit like the “Apart from that Mrs Lincoln, how was the play?”).
Oldham were the beneficiaries of another penalty decision to give them their equaliser at Wealdstone where he also cautioned two apiece and no cards at all in Oldham’s home draw with Bromley right at the end of last season - meaning he’s doing two consecutive Oldham league matches.
Those six matches saw just 16 yellow cards and no reds.
Assisting will be regular visitor to the Hall, Andrew Gray from Ipswich and, with his first Southend appearance, newly promoted Christopher Darling from Cambridge. The latter is a PE teacher and prolific racer, doing marathons and other endurance sports. Fourth Official is Mark Pond from Basildon.
