Mick
Life President
- Joined
- Oct 28, 2003
- Messages
- 10,977
Matches at Meadow Lane commenced in 1931 when a goal by Jim Shankly gave us a share of the points. He was, of course, one of the five Shankly footballing brothers, one of whom became rather better known than the others. Over the years we’ve played them 55 times in League matches, having won 23, drawn 10 and lost the other 22. How will tomorrow compare with Saturday? I think it's fair to say the opposition will be better and the referee probably won't.
Tomorrow night's match will be refereed by Garreth Rhodes from York, an Operations Manager for a construction company. As a youngster he had trials with professional clubs and represented West Riding County FA at U18 level. He didn’t make it into the professional game but went on to play for Tadcaster Albion and Selby Town in the Northern Counties East League. Injuries brought his playing career to a premature end and he started refereeing in 2008. After 10 years he reached his current level of Panel Select referee and is now in his fifth season at National League level. His very first match, Gateshead v Dover was cardless – a feat he has only managed once again in his subsequent 74 games !
This season’s 13 matches have seen a slightly high 48 yellows but just one red card.
He has refereed Southend only once before. Coincidentally, he took charge of the corresponding fixture last season when in the midst of an embargo and injury crisis we lost 4-1 after taking the lead. Five yellows in the match with ours going to Ralph, Brunt and Dunne.
Before that game he was Fourth Official for away matches at Sunderland and Bolton and the home match against Forest Green. This will be his 9th County match in total and third of the season. They won the other two, both at home and both by a single goal.
The rest of the team are all new to Southend. Assisting will be Ashley Clarke from Birmingham and Alan Hull (not the one Southend released as a youngster and not the ex-Lindisfarne front-man) from Sheffield. Fourth Official is Dane McCarrick from Middlesbrough, a former researcher at Leeds University and now a Clinical Outcomes Assessment Scientist.
Tomorrow night's match will be refereed by Garreth Rhodes from York, an Operations Manager for a construction company. As a youngster he had trials with professional clubs and represented West Riding County FA at U18 level. He didn’t make it into the professional game but went on to play for Tadcaster Albion and Selby Town in the Northern Counties East League. Injuries brought his playing career to a premature end and he started refereeing in 2008. After 10 years he reached his current level of Panel Select referee and is now in his fifth season at National League level. His very first match, Gateshead v Dover was cardless – a feat he has only managed once again in his subsequent 74 games !
This season’s 13 matches have seen a slightly high 48 yellows but just one red card.
He has refereed Southend only once before. Coincidentally, he took charge of the corresponding fixture last season when in the midst of an embargo and injury crisis we lost 4-1 after taking the lead. Five yellows in the match with ours going to Ralph, Brunt and Dunne.
Before that game he was Fourth Official for away matches at Sunderland and Bolton and the home match against Forest Green. This will be his 9th County match in total and third of the season. They won the other two, both at home and both by a single goal.
The rest of the team are all new to Southend. Assisting will be Ashley Clarke from Birmingham and Alan Hull (not the one Southend released as a youngster and not the ex-Lindisfarne front-man) from Sheffield. Fourth Official is Dane McCarrick from Middlesbrough, a former researcher at Leeds University and now a Clinical Outcomes Assessment Scientist.
