It’s Tuesday morning and, with Brentford due to play Preston North End in three day’s time, I’ve just performed the latest part of the pre game ritual – checking out the referee. The Football League very handily publish this list in advance of all games so as supporters know which way the ‘Chance cards‘ of whistle blowing fate will land.
Will it be “Go to Jail. Go directly to Jail. Do not Pass Go. Do not collect £200” (Keith Stroud) or ‘Advance to Go’ (Gavin Ward who, to be fair, had a very good game at Griffin Park recently)?
To read the rest of this article, season 2013/14 is now available to download onto Kindle, in full. Containing previously unseen content, you can do so here for less than the cost of one matchday programme.
Thanks for reading over the course of the campaign. For now I need to make space on this page for any follow up. The ‘close season’ / World Cup columns continue in full, further on in this site.
BrentfordFC 
I must admit to having some geek like interest in our officials, even our linesmen and women. Mr Hill is not one in my hall of shame, so I’m happy with the appointment. The appointment of Mr Malone at Swindon, was bizarre in the least. A Wiltshire ref for a game in Wiltshire for such a crucial game. Not a ref with the best reputation, but PGMOL didnt exactly put him a good position and was a hiding to nothing. Back to Mr Hill, he did vanish for a couple of years and ended up in Japan training referees as part of the referee cultural exchange (the same exchange which brought us the rather frustrating Japanese ref in the Cup game against Basingstoke a couple of years back). I believe Mr Coote is currently the holder of the Japanese visa.
Just for a matter of interest on my list of shame is Cup Final ref, ‘Bobby’ Madley, Swarbrick, Robinson, Berry, Kettle, Stroud, Malone and Bull (hopeless lino, hopeless ref)
Even a lino fill me with dread – Buonassisi
Heres a couple of ref predictions for the new year. Goodbye to Booth, Pat Miller, Waugh, Shoebridge (who should have gone last season) and Mohareb (who may be in prison?) and maybe even a demotion for Mike Jones. And we could be saying hello to refs called Handley, Kevin Johnson, Joyce, Kavanagh, Bankes and quite possibly Amy Fearn.
I’d forgotten all about the cultural exchange, Many thanks indeed.
Although I must ask how any refereeing list of shame can exclude Ray ‘8 minutes’ Biggar?