Harrow

[cangull]

The referee turned his eye away from some very nasty challenges today.

Harrow certainly knew how to use their elbows, Boylan came very close to having a fractured jaw, I should think that a few of our players are nursing elbow related injuries this evening.

I was told that the referee had 15 years of refereeing experience, certainly didn't show it, thats for sure!!

The physical side of football has certainly raised its head from opposition during some of our latest games.

[Ian_W]

Report and photos are now online at http://www.canveyfc.com/2002/reports/51.htm

[The Great Eckscape]

Apperently, when the Harrow boss Edwin Stein brought a sub on he told him to "mark Boylan, and if you have to break his legs, break them." This is a ridiculous thing for a manager to say, and he should surely be disciplined for telling his players to end a promising strikers career.

[Matt H]

Doesn't surprise me actually!

 

With Harrow's 9 defenders I wouldn't be surprised if they all had flick-knives down the socks!! Did you see some of the digs they gave us? Of course you did, but the Referee didn't.

 

Still, we won the game and the points so no use complaining. Now lets focus on Hendon Tuesday, (another game I can't make!!!) If I can I will be updating the main site throughout the night so anyone else who can't make the game, get to a computer ASAP...

 

Matt CIFC <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />

[YELLOW]

Harrow Boro has something in common with Georgia and their liking for knives!!

 

Couldn't make the game yesterday so I followed it on scorecheck and spent the entire second half shouting at the computer screen. My mood was not helped by an incredibly slow server that took ages to open a page. Went ballistic, deafening everybody in the house when Ollie scored. Why do they always leave things to the last minute!!

 

As Bill Shankly said you have to play right until the final whistle. I wonder how crucial Ollie's goal and also Scott Forbes' last minute goal against Enfield will prove come the end of the season.

 

A big thank you to Hayes. To be honest they owed us after we gave them the points on the opening day of the season!!

 

Oh yes a certain Mr Greygoose has an FA Vase final to look forward to!!

[pabird]

I ve watched Ed Stein work for a few years now and where he may say give this or that player a dig but break his leg! never

The more serious issue of ref!s should be a major concern

Lets clearly understand if you play for The Gulls or the shots you are a target for every mini-minded defender you meet (and some CFs)

This happens at every level of football and will remain in the game for ever

The real problem is that modern ref!s do not understand what is going on, they are non-athletic types that simply do not understand what damage is caused by what nature of assault

So who is to blame? for me the FA, the Ryman blazers etc.

The ref!s do what they can within their own limitations which is not a lot

Development of ref!s ,coaches, administraters etc must be part and parcel for any Conference plans in the redevlopment of the senior non-league game

Ive done it again and wasted another ten minutes of my life

[Merv]

Not a total waste, Pa. I agree with you that whilst we are all shouting at the referees, little is being done to help these guys acquire the skills needed to officiate at this level. Thank goodness someone is prepared to take the job on, otherwise where would we be? But they do need some sort of help - especially younger officials who are just starting out. If the FA (or whoever) doesn't set up a programme to help and guide them, the dreadful state of affairs that exists at the moment will carry on.

 

Saturday was yet another example of a ref who could see the late tackles and the foul throws, but was oblivious to the nagging and niggling infringements that went on all the time and caused tempers to flair. Why oh why do the refs not use their linesmen? Even for throw-ins on Saturday the lino on my side simply put his flag in the air and then pointed the same way as the ref - eventually.

 

Something has gone dreadfully wrong with match officials this season and I would love to hear from the FA what plans they have to improve the situation.

[pabird]

Merv I think the deeper problem goes back to the season when the third division hijacked the conference (better) ref!s and the conference ripped off the better ryman Dc Martin etc ref!s

The tinsel thin layer of good ref!s was exposed to its underbelly and has never recovered

If you then add the modern manner of training ref!s where each season carries a different "theme" IE the tackle from behind and ref!s where marked down if the official observer failed to see action along the FIFA theme for the year

Ref!s stopped thinking for themselves and many good ref!s gave up all together

Trust me we now have ref!s who instruct their asisstants "only call the offsides" I will call the rest

There has to be a way of fast tracking referee!s who understand the physical side of the game, who understand when a player is turning the studs upwards at the last second, who always jump into the opposition elbow first and often most damagingly locate the tackling foot over the opponents kicking foot causing the kicker to make contact full force into the studs

The crowd will always believe their side is being cheated and so what? that does help the atmosphere if kept to verbal insults only

We the crowd however will see week in week out low level and for the players dangerous officials

So what games do the blazers watch? and when will someone ,anyone? attempt a plan for the future wellbeing of non-league (ref!s,coaches,admin,early management etc) by way off sponsored recruitment and training

The recruitment being key where suitability for the job is scanned first and foremost

 

 

[SteveR]

As a first year referee, I can now see things from both points of view. One thing to bear in mind is that the referee does not necessarily have the same view of an incident that we do, particularly anything niggly. As for backup and training from the FA, there is quite a bit around in terms of seminars, newsletters etc, and is has to be up to the refs themselves to make use of what the FA offers, as it is all free of charge.

 

However, I have to agree that there has been some awful officials around this season, although I don't think I could go as far as suggesting that any of them have cost us a game.

 

I believe that all we can ask for is that each individual referee is consistent in their decision making, You will never get into the position that there is consistency from referee to referee, such is the way that we are as humans.

 

One thing that I do, that I think a lot of referees could benefit from, is to explain my decisions at the time if they are questioned by the players. More often than not, they then accept what I have said, and the game continues.

 

One thing I do feel is that we as supporters expect the match officials to get every decision correct - that will never happen.

 

Believe me, the FA are aware that there is a problem, but without more people volunteering to take up refereeing, they will have no option but to keep fast-tracking officials through the system before they have had enough experience at lower levels.

 

I have to admit, I don't really have any intention of refereeing much higher than county league football, purely due to my commitments at Hendon, but if I was to decide to progress, then I would not put myself forward unless I felt that I was ready to make the step up.

[pabird]

Nice one Steve and I would like to hear more from you and other ref!s on how we are to improve

When I said sponsored I meant real money on training rather than seminars (seminars have value for all levels but not in basic training)

actual work experience with coaching by experienced ref!s

The capture of some of the lads dropped out by the pro clubs due to injury or simple lack of top level skills with these lads trained by pro!s (sponsorship monies)

Even at non-league levels the game has moved on but officials have (mostly) not, they appear to be less athletic and less knowledgable in the physical side of the game

It is quicker, the players have higher level skills therefore the dangers are greater, The odd trip or tackle from behind was always painful but todays players being fitter and stronger hit harder and faster and impose longer term damage

There is money in non-league but the simple expediant of seminars and free news letters will not do the job

recruit.train.retain with each of those three elements being studied for best results