Mick
Life President
Just as we have an opportunity to make up for a sub-standard performance away at Newport, tomorrow's referee also has the chance to make up for a sub-standard performance in his last match at Roots Hall when Newport make their first visit to Roots Hall for a League match in 30 years.
Man in charge is James Linington from Newport*. He is a highly rated referee in his sixth year having previously been a Select Group Assistant Referee and is being touted as a possibility to make it right to the top.
He has nearly always looked pretty decent or better when I have seen him referee (which includes the Dagenham play-off final at Wembley) and will allow the game to flow if given the opportunity.
The exception was his last visit to Roots Hall against Dagenham & Redbridge in the League when Phillips was dismissed (on the say so of an Assistant Referee) with a couple of yellows for us and one for them. Even though he was way short of his usual standard and somewhat inconsistent, I didn't think he was quite as terrible as was made out. The appeal against the Phillips dismissal was unsuccessful. (He has refereed Dagenham again since then and, this time, sent off one of their players - perhaps he was feeling guilty!)
He has refereed Southend just four times before. Firstly the 3-0 home win against Carlisle in 2008/9 and then the following season's 1-1 draw at Wycombe. For Southend he only cautioned Grant and Macca respectively in those two matches. Then more recently, last March, he was in charge of our wretched performance when we lost 2-0 at home to Plymouth. Finally, that Dagenham game.
His card count is just slightly above average this season with 72 yellows and 5 reds from 22 games, including a good number of Championship appointments.
The rest of the team have short Friday afternoon journeys. Assistants are Darren Blunden from Dartford and Matt Foley from London with 4th Official duties being undertaken by Gary Jerden from Orsett.
* This is, of course, Newport, Isle of Wight.
Man in charge is James Linington from Newport*. He is a highly rated referee in his sixth year having previously been a Select Group Assistant Referee and is being touted as a possibility to make it right to the top.
He has nearly always looked pretty decent or better when I have seen him referee (which includes the Dagenham play-off final at Wembley) and will allow the game to flow if given the opportunity.
The exception was his last visit to Roots Hall against Dagenham & Redbridge in the League when Phillips was dismissed (on the say so of an Assistant Referee) with a couple of yellows for us and one for them. Even though he was way short of his usual standard and somewhat inconsistent, I didn't think he was quite as terrible as was made out. The appeal against the Phillips dismissal was unsuccessful. (He has refereed Dagenham again since then and, this time, sent off one of their players - perhaps he was feeling guilty!)
He has refereed Southend just four times before. Firstly the 3-0 home win against Carlisle in 2008/9 and then the following season's 1-1 draw at Wycombe. For Southend he only cautioned Grant and Macca respectively in those two matches. Then more recently, last March, he was in charge of our wretched performance when we lost 2-0 at home to Plymouth. Finally, that Dagenham game.
His card count is just slightly above average this season with 72 yellows and 5 reds from 22 games, including a good number of Championship appointments.
The rest of the team have short Friday afternoon journeys. Assistants are Darren Blunden from Dartford and Matt Foley from London with 4th Official duties being undertaken by Gary Jerden from Orsett.
* This is, of course, Newport, Isle of Wight.