Mick
The Ref Aficionado.
Tomorrow's match sees the youthful looking Gavin Ward from Oxted in Surrey returning to Roots Hall for a League match for the first time since he mishandled the match against Gillingham nearly two years ago.
He has returned since for a JPT match, against the same opposition last year, and that went much better; generally JPT games are lower key.
This is his fifth season as a League referee. He has refereed 6 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, three season's ago, the 2-1 home win against Swindon.
The fourth one was also three 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 the Gillingham home game the season before last with an astonishingly inept display producing 9 yellow cards.
Since then he also took charge of our away win at Leyton Orient the Christmas before last.
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 a little worse than average with 29 yellows and 1 red from 9 matches. Nigel Lugg from Chipstead also in Surrey and Lee Betts from Great Yarmouth are assisting and ginger-haired schoolteacher Carl Fitch from Ipswich will be carrying out 4th official duties.
He has returned since for a JPT match, against the same opposition last year, and that went much better; generally JPT games are lower key.
This is his fifth season as a League referee. He has refereed 6 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, three season's ago, the 2-1 home win against Swindon.
The fourth one was also three 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 the Gillingham home game the season before last with an astonishingly inept display producing 9 yellow cards.
Since then he also took charge of our away win at Leyton Orient the Christmas before last.
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 a little worse than average with 29 yellows and 1 red from 9 matches. Nigel Lugg from Chipstead also in Surrey and Lee Betts from Great Yarmouth are assisting and ginger-haired schoolteacher Carl Fitch from Ipswich will be carrying out 4th official duties.
