Ref Watch Non-league refwatch ............... Aldershot (A)

[Mick]

We have had comfortably the better of league matches with Aldershot over the years having played them 81 (and a half) times, winning 34 (and a half), drawing 22 and losing just 25.

After some long-awaited largesse from the refereeing fraternity last Friday, what does Tuesday have in store? Well, it’s a big day for the referee, Aji Ajibola from Erith in Kent. He will be refereeing his first ever League match at National League Premier level. He is one of a number of officials who have benefited from a mid-season promotion - pretty much a new concept recognising not exceptional performances but a bit of a shortage of referees at some non-league levels.

He is a Sales Account Manager for Canon UK and, sturdily built, he is an amateur boxer. He is Vice Chairman of the BAME Referee Support Group and a serving member of the Football Association in a voluntary role on the FA Council as a National Game Football Communities Representative.

He has made 5 visits to Roots Hall, three as Fourth Official (most recently for the home match this season against Aldershot!) and two refereeing FA Youth Cup games in consecutive seasons versus Oxford then Barnet.

Assisting will be Shelby Elson, a Recruitment Consultant from Farnborough, about 4 miles from the Aldershot ground, and Farai Hallam from Redbridge. The latter has a top role as Premier League Academy Manager having previously worked for the FA for 8 years in various senior roles leading up to National Referee Manager. A promising footballer, who aspired to represent Zimbabwe, he was at Stevenage as an academy player and turned out at Boots and Laces in a 0-1 victory for them. Injuries ended his playing career before it got going. Also ran a line in our home match against Maidenhead. Standing by as Fourth Official is Howard Collins from Kent.

 

[Mick]

Someone has spotted that Farnborough is walking distance from Aldershot and Shelby Elson has been withdrawn from his role as Assistant. Instead it will be Lee Hartley from Stamford.

 

[Billy Bests boot laces]

it’s a big day for the referee, Aji Ajibola from Erith in Kent. He will be refereeing his first ever League match at National League Premier level. He is one of a number of officials who have benefited from a mid-season promotion - pretty much a new concept recognising not exceptional performances but a bit of a shortage of referees at some non-league levels.
He is a Sales Account Manager for Canon UK and, sturdily built, he is an amateur boxer.

I await with interest the comments on his performance. Let's all hope they are for the right reasons!.

 

[Up the Shrimpers]

Someone has spotted that Farnborough is walking distance from Aldershot and Shelby Elson has been withdrawn from his role as Assistant. Instead it will be Lee Hartley from Stamford.

They should have done that for the game we played away at Bolton a couple of seasons ago and the ref was from Horwich or somewhere like that.

 

[Harry Bullocks]

For his 1st game in National League, I believe he was easily swayed by players and fans with some varied decision making;

When the Shots player went down injured, he played on, then several passes later as we cut through, stopped the game for attention to the injured player.
Annoying but ok player safety etc.
For the restart I was expecting a drop ball where we had broken through, but he gave the ball to Shots defender who cleared and their striker challenged for the ball.
Surely this goes against the principles of "fair play".

Missed a lot of time wasting esp by the Shots keeper.

For us, I believe Lapata was fortunate to only get a yellow for his injury time wipe out of their player.

Overall, 6/10

 

[Mick]

Thanks for that.

I agree it's wrong to stop play if the injured player's team have had an opportunity to put the ball out , didn't and have now lost possession - unless the referee has suddenly become aware of the seriousness of the injury. And it's doubly wrong to restart play by giving the ball to the team not in possession when play is stopped.