A&H

Personalised boots ref?

OnlyUseMeWhistle

OnlyUseMeWhistle

RefChat Addict
Level 4W Referee
Seen this tweet and it gave me a chuckle:

https://twitter.com/x/status/1784583122186576311

I’m exactly the kind of official to do this and only haven’t because of worries about how it would be perceived. Would be interested in others takes on this, I assume the AR has done some international games hence the flag? Could even have been given the boots as part of that?
 
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Think it has been said in many different ways on this forum before.

Whilst most would look at it and probably think it's completely harmless, in my opinion, as an official, we are already under intense scrutiny so I want to draw as little attention to myself as possible. This includes wearing black boots, making sure my kit is clean and making sure I don't look like I just rolled out of bed. There was even a heated debate recently about using a rainbow lanyard and how this could potentially draw unwanted attention.

Having your name on your boots could be seen as thinking you're a bit "big time" (especially if you are writing 'LEDGE' on them), but I would say this also applies to players who are playing outside of the professional circuit.
 
The first thing that stands out to me is, why is this even a story? Another nonsense, slow-news day social post by Match of the “Duh” like the “referee in shoes” thing from several season back.

And secondly, a peeling E suggests the R -making his surname has come off already.

Labelled boots? Easier to keep track of your kit in a dressing room. We all label stuff at work to stop other people taking it, we label kids clothes and school stuff so we know whose it is.

And it’s so small you need a telephoto lens to see it so it’s no more a distraction or drawing attention to yourself in the grand scheme of things than choosing Nike over Adidas boots.
 
I mean, there are two aspects to this. One, @Tealeaf has laid out perfectly.

The other is that the possibility this person might introduce themselves by saying "Hi, I'm Scott Ledger, but you can call me Ledge" makes me want to vomit!

So I'm afraid in conclusion, I'm inclined to side against him.
 
OnlyUseMeWhistle said:
Seen this tweet and it gave me a chuckle:

https://twitter.com/x/status/1784583122186576311

I’m exactly the kind of official to do this and only haven’t because of worries about how it would be perceived. Would be interested in others takes on this, I assume the AR has done some international games hence the flag? Could even have been given the boots as part of that?
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Could easily be a birthday present.

I'd like to look good and feel confident. If wearing customised boots helps, then all for it (though it's not my thing). In terms of not drawing attention, I think doing the job right far outweighs any deserved attention or lack of it. Not wearing it to avoid what might come my way because of it makes me feel like I am giving credibility to the offender and make him/her win before a ball is kicked.
 
I honestly think that the quality of boots all round has decreased rapidly past few seasons. I’ve split 3 pairs in 2 seasons now, including Adidas Predators…
 
I think Jon Moss had the words "mossy" written on his boots and of course the predictable response was trying to be the centre of attention.

As Tealeaf says, it's not even news nevermind doing a social media post on it.
 
george.g said:
I honestly think that the quality of boots all round has decreased rapidly past few seasons. I’ve split 3 pairs in 2 seasons now, including Adidas Predators…
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Yeah all my "playing" boots are modern and falling apart after a season or two.

My reffing boots are the old school adidas ones and have held up well after 3 seasons
 
GraemeS said:
I mean, there are two aspects to this. One, @Tealeaf has laid out perfectly.

The other is that the possibility this person might introduce themselves by saying "Hi, I'm Scott Ledger, but you can call me Ledge" makes me want to vomit!

So I'm afraid in conclusion, I'm inclined to side against him.
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Apart from everyone in football knows his him as Ledge, and given he has been on the panel for decades he will just get called it. Howard Webb even joked about it on one of the VAR review shows when someone asked "who's Ledge" when his name came up on the comms.

Would I wear personalised boots as a referee? Probably not, but I'm not going to start to criticise a referee for his nickname, a nickname that was probably given to him by others.
 
OnlyUseMeWhistle said:
Yeah all my "playing" boots are modern and falling apart after a season or two.

My reffing boots are the old school adidas ones and have held up well after 3 seasons
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I think it's the sideways motion of lining that has done mine in, was really disappointed when my £130 Adidas pair went, felt copped out on tbh.
 
Gabriel said:
I think this may well be an Adidas problem. I've got Predators (don't know exactly which of the many versions) and the first pair fell apart after a few games on poor pitches.
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Exact same for me. Very good boots for poor pitches too. Find they grip well and don't roll my ankles with them. Not forking out on another pair right now though
 
george.g said:
Not forking out on another pair right now though
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I only ended up with another pair of predators as I bought the rubbish pair on my birthday, and then a family member had thought the exact same! Definitely wouldn't have wasted the money otherwise.
 
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