Mick
The Ref Aficionado.
The referee for tonight's big match is Oliver Langford from Darlaston, near Walsall in the West Midlands.
In his fourth season as a Football League referee, he has only refereed Southend twice before. First was the dreadful match (until the last minute anyway) at Leyton Orient in 2008/9. He didn't excel, but did better than the players. The second was the low key paint thing at Milton Keynes the following season. In both games he seemed to find it easier to caution away players than home ones.
He must have improved since I last saw him as he has been getting a lot of Championship games this season. His yellow card count is below average with 65 yellows from 23 games whereas his red cards, at 7, are above average.
He has yet to have a cardless match this season and I can't see that happening tonight somehow.
A trio from the far extremeties of Essex make up the team of officials with Elliott Kaye (Hainault) and Wade Norcott(Harlow) running the lines. The 4th official is a short, bald man from Colchester, John Magill.
In his fourth season as a Football League referee, he has only refereed Southend twice before. First was the dreadful match (until the last minute anyway) at Leyton Orient in 2008/9. He didn't excel, but did better than the players. The second was the low key paint thing at Milton Keynes the following season. In both games he seemed to find it easier to caution away players than home ones.
He must have improved since I last saw him as he has been getting a lot of Championship games this season. His yellow card count is below average with 65 yellows from 23 games whereas his red cards, at 7, are above average.
He has yet to have a cardless match this season and I can't see that happening tonight somehow.
A trio from the far extremeties of Essex make up the team of officials with Elliott Kaye (Hainault) and Wade Norcott(Harlow) running the lines. The 4th official is a short, bald man from Colchester, John Magill.
