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Reporter blows the whistle after refs go on strike

A reporter swapped his notepad for a whistle after volunteering to referee a game of Sunday league football.

Tamworth Herald journalist Bobby Bridge stepped in to officiate the match between Griff and Coton Manor Thirds and Fillongley Social Reserves after a strike by local referees in response to three of them being assaulted during games this season.

However, the strike gave Bobby a chance to experience what they have to deal with on a weekly basis in the Nuneaton and District Sunday League.

Bobby, who says football is his second sport behind rugby, said he enjoyed the experience despite a few pre-match nerves before the Sunday morning encounter.

Reporter Bobby Bridge tends to a player who received a blow to the groin.

“The game itself was entertaining to be involved in, the Griff had many young players who I learned came through a separate youth team together and are now cutting their teeth at senior football under the same coach, how fantastic is that?,” he wrote in the Tamworth Herald.

“Aside from getting my arm signals messed up (you point the opposite way in rugby when a decision is given), I got into the game and was enjoying the banter.

“In football, you need eyes in the back of your head – and crucially, the ball is in motion, not in handled possession, meaning you need to have focus on that player in possession, but also where it’s likely to head, with an eye on the first player in case he receives a late tackle.

“Mix in the offsides to this melting pot of issues, I grew more respect for football referees by the minute.”

Bobby, who had to make a number of tough decisons during the 90 minutes, felt he learned a lot from his time in the middle and believes referees should be given more support from relevant authorities.

“I thoroughly enjoyed my run out and received some lovely comments from the players, with most making a point of seeking me out to shake my hand,” he added.

“They were a credit to their clubs, and the Nuneaton and District Sunday Football League.

“Without referees you can’t have a game, it’s a simple as that, and I am confident this whole sorry saga will eventually come full circle and the league can begin to rebuild its reputation as one of the area’s finest institutions.

“As for my refereeing ambitions, well, I can’t say that I want this to be my last game, as the sporting challenge evoked old, welcome feelings I’ve not had since an ACL rupture effectively ended my rugby playing career back in 2011 at the age of 26.

“The biggest thing preventing me from kicking on and doing a course and going for it, is the fear of the goodwill inevitably dwindling and I see the ugly side of the beautiful game for myself.

“And there lies the problem perhaps, the fear of failure may become too great for people to take up the role with whistle in hand.

“It’s up to the teams involved in the league, and the people who run it with passion, to lay the foundations for recovery.”

4 comments

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  • December 2, 2013 at 12:17 pm
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    Is it just me that thinks this is a bit of an own goal (sorry)?

    The strike is over a very serious problem and now it has been trivalised for a sports reporter’s ego.

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  • December 2, 2013 at 1:55 pm
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    I refereed Sunday league and youth matches in the 70s as a qualified official. My fees paid for weekend drinks. I was also the league’s. treasurer. Happy days

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  • December 6, 2013 at 10:34 am
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    Hello ‘Desker’ – the match would have been officiated anyway, but probably by the coaches or an unlucky bystander, no games were called off in the strike. I certainly didn’t do it for my ego, I was extremely nervous about doing it and spoke to a few referees I knew about doing it. I’ve had a fantastic response from referees since its publication, and have even been invited to a regional referee’s meeting to discuss my experience.
    There’s certainly easier ways of boosting your ego!

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