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I have noticed more this season than any other that in both my Saturday and Sunday leagues, teams are dropping out as they are struggling to get players. This has always been a worrying trend in previous seasons but typically new teams join to replace those that are not starting a new season...

I doubt they judged a book just by its cover and you have qualities far beyond your choice of whistle.

At park level this usually means the CAR is constantly changing so how many times can you stop the game to brief them unless you talked to the whole team pre KO about your expectations of an assistant.

On Sunday during a all Premiership cup tie I patted myself on the back for being in the best position not once but twice to see the ball bounce just over the line. Had I held my original position on the edge of the penalty box whilst the ball was high up (free kick and a corner) I might not...

So if asked how long, I'll say x minutes plus stoppage but try not to confirm how much stoppage as it could change a lot between then and the end of the half / game I was saying similar and avoiding saying exactly how much stoppage but it was causing me grief from players on occasion, "every...

Could you reply "x minutes in total including any added time so far"? I like most others have one watch acting as a stop watch on my left wrist which I pause for injuries etc and hold up high if I want to show players I am stopping the watch for time wasting and on my right wrist I have a...

The League is in the main full of teams that turn up to play football. As with most leagues I am sure, there are always one of two teams that you look out for. So it would be unfair to name and shame the whole league and I cannot mention the offending teams by name.

On Saturday I got the ball kicked into my crown jewels. I managed to keep running for another 50m then doubled over as the ball went out of play. The GK took the goal kick and I managed to whistle for a halt in play whilst I recovered. First and last time this happens to me I hope. Zero...

Generally the chatter is the negative things that happen to us all so in one way I hope you don't join in too soon. You could always write up your positive experiences.

Cyprus referees boycott over bombing of official's mother's home Referees in Cyprus are boycotting all domestic matches for one week after an official's mother's home was bombed. http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/30889131

Players in the main are totally clueless and we waste so much time and energy either educating them or allowing ourselves to be wound up by their stupidity/understanding of the LOTG. I communicate less and less with players now during the match as they clearly are spoiling for an argument, i.e...

Last week two honest but boring matches. This week two nightmares. In both cases other referees and the opposing team at one match backed me up by saying that the opposition were always that badly behaved. Dissent dissent dissent, no respect, cheating, foul language, supporters misbehaving...

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/30824468 The referee shows the red card to the wrong Millwall player in the FA Cup match against Bradford. I presume the right player, Mark Beevers, owned up and eventually went off?

A Club is entitled (under FA rules and regulations) to respond to such charges (misconduct report) in any of the following ways: · Plead Guilty to the charge and accept the report on which it is based. · Plead Guilty to the charge and wish to attend a Disciplinary Hearing to enter a verbal...

The search for less gobby players is the one thing above all else that makes me consider refereeing at a higher level even if it means being an AR instead of in the middle.

If you forget which team is kicking which way (it happens) just say the colour of the team and then follow with a hand signal when you regain your bearings.

Pointless answer but nope.

Had two matches this weekend, no cautions, no FT's worth mentioning, no dissent worthy of the name, handshakes all round after the whistle, genuine thanks from the managers, some healthy post match debate over a few decisions. I guess I should be grateful but how can I say this - I was bored...

It was played on a school pitch and the caretaker was watching. I did say to him the pitch was good and I hoped it did not cut up too much. He did not express any concerns. A very odd thing about this pitch is it at an angle to the surrounding buildings which messes with your...

A "mistake" I occasionally make is to take um-bridge at a comment and blow instantly for dissent. Really I should wait for a break in play if the opposition are in an advantageous position. It is at its most effective if the same team are attacking and a defender says something as then attack...