Mick
Life President
- Joined
- Oct 28, 2003
- Messages
- 10,971
Tomorrow's referee needs little introduction; he is the youthful looking Gavin Ward from Oxted in Surrey.
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 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 7 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.
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.
His card count this season is once again above average for both yellows and reds with 46 and 4 respectively, from 13 games.
Assistants are John Magill, a short, bald man from Colchester (not got much going for him at all) and Ryan Atkin from London with Michael Webb from Surrey doing the 4th official stuff.
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 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 7 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.
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.
His card count this season is once again above average for both yellows and reds with 46 and 4 respectively, from 13 games.
Assistants are John Magill, a short, bald man from Colchester (not got much going for him at all) and Ryan Atkin from London with Michael Webb from Surrey doing the 4th official stuff.
