Mick
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Tomorrow's referee needs little introduction; he is the youthful looking Gavin Ward from Oxted in Surrey.
His most recent Southend match was one of his better ones, taking charge of the entertaining home 0-0 with Port Vale earlier this season with 1 caution to us and 2 to them.
Before that his last match, or should I say half a match, was the ill-fated fixture at Aldershot on Boxing Day last season, when, in the eys of some, he became a good referee because his bad decisions favoured us for once.
The previous one was the home game against Shrewsbury (3-0), also last season, which was his first return to Roots Hall for a League game since he mishandled the match against Gillingham nearly three years ago. He had returned since for a JPT match, against the same opposition the year before last, and that went much better; generally JPT games are lower key.
The Shrewsbury game was undoubtedly another one of his better ones with a couple of penalties going our way and just three yellows shaded by the Shrews.
This is his sixth season as a League referee. He has refereed 8 home matches. His first three games went pretty much okay. They were the JPT defeat on pens by Dagenham, the 2-1 win against Hartlepool (who had Sam Collins sent off in that match) and, four seasons ago, the 2-1 home win against Swindon.
The fourth one was also four seasons ago against Bristol Rovers when he declined to send off the opposing goalkeeper for a handball outside the area. Notwithstanding that decision, it wasn't the best of performances from Mr Ward.
The fifth home match was when he mishandled that Gillingham home game three seasons ago with an astonishingly inept display producing 9 yellow cards.
Since then he also took charge of our away win at Leyton Orient three years ago.
Last time he refereed Oxford there were 7 yellows and 2 reds at Gillingham last season.
He was an absolutely first class linesman. Lined in numerous Premiership matches and some full internationals. He is looking to replicate that success in the middle and therefore will probably be disappointed that he has been deservedly overtaken in the pecking order by several younger officials (even if they don't look younger). He had been trying to card his way back into recognition; I don't think it worked and hopefully he is rethinking his strategy although his card count this season is once again above average for yellows 84 from 25 games. His 10 (ten) red cards are massively above average and double his total for all of last season.
Assistants are John O'Brien from London (making his 3rd visit of the season) and Marc Wilson from Cambridgeshire with Lee Betts from Great Yarmouth doing the 4th official stuff.
His most recent Southend match was one of his better ones, taking charge of the entertaining home 0-0 with Port Vale earlier this season with 1 caution to us and 2 to them.
Before that his last match, or should I say half a match, was the ill-fated fixture at Aldershot on Boxing Day last season, when, in the eys of some, he became a good referee because his bad decisions favoured us for once.
The previous one was the home game against Shrewsbury (3-0), also last season, which was his first return to Roots Hall for a League game since he mishandled the match against Gillingham nearly three years ago. He had returned since for a JPT match, against the same opposition the year before last, and that went much better; generally JPT games are lower key.
The Shrewsbury game was undoubtedly another one of his better ones with a couple of penalties going our way and just three yellows shaded by the Shrews.
This is his sixth season as a League referee. He has refereed 8 home matches. His first three games went pretty much okay. They were the JPT defeat on pens by Dagenham, the 2-1 win against Hartlepool (who had Sam Collins sent off in that match) and, four seasons ago, the 2-1 home win against Swindon.
The fourth one was also four seasons ago against Bristol Rovers when he declined to send off the opposing goalkeeper for a handball outside the area. Notwithstanding that decision, it wasn't the best of performances from Mr Ward.
The fifth home match was when he mishandled that Gillingham home game three seasons ago with an astonishingly inept display producing 9 yellow cards.
Since then he also took charge of our away win at Leyton Orient three years ago.
Last time he refereed Oxford there were 7 yellows and 2 reds at Gillingham last season.
He was an absolutely first class linesman. Lined in numerous Premiership matches and some full internationals. He is looking to replicate that success in the middle and therefore will probably be disappointed that he has been deservedly overtaken in the pecking order by several younger officials (even if they don't look younger). He had been trying to card his way back into recognition; I don't think it worked and hopefully he is rethinking his strategy although his card count this season is once again above average for yellows 84 from 25 games. His 10 (ten) red cards are massively above average and double his total for all of last season.
Assistants are John O'Brien from London (making his 3rd visit of the season) and Marc Wilson from Cambridgeshire with Lee Betts from Great Yarmouth doing the 4th official stuff.
