Have you ever ...

[RustyRef]

Saw this and it got me wondering, how many of us have gone to the wrong ground, or perhaps on the wrong day? A referee I know (100% not me) caused a step 3 game to be delayed after he drove himself and his colleagues to the secretary's house, sure they would have been made welcome but the secretary was at the ground rather than his house. Unfortunately he lives nowhere near the ground and it took them an hour to reroute

I haven't done it for a game, but I turned up for a football meeting a week early. Told the security guard I was there for the London FA meeting and he, completely deadpan, just replied with well I'd suggest you come back this time next Monday then.

So come on, any admissions of turning up to the wrong place or at the wrong time.

 

[Archer]

Within five miles of each other round here are Hunter Park, Hunts Farm, and Hatches Farm.

The number of panicked calls I received as an Appt Sec with teams and refs not at the same one at the same time was staggering.

 

[Archer]

I've definitely turned up to RA meetings a week early. Every 2nd Monday until suddenly one isn't. Cheap beer there though so no drama

 

[es1]

Turned up a day late for a gig, but never a football match

 

[Gabriel]

I've turned up early to 2 RA meetings, and also late to a fixture last season. The home side has 2 home grounds, the match form I was sent had the main venue on, and then the game was moved to the other ground. I was supposedly told, but funnily enough I don't remember that! Not too much of an issue though, as I just shortened my pre-match warm up and got going about 10 mins later than scheduled. I was very lucky the 2 grounds were only 15 minutes away from each other.

I've done it several times when scoring or umpiring cricket too

 

[Ross]

Turned up late to a step 6 game once. 3pm kick off, got there at 2:45 despite leaving the house at 12:30 to do a 12 mile journey. Rang the referee at 1:30 to say that I’d be a tad late. Kicked off at 3:15 after agreement from both teams. This was in cornwall too. Only time I’ve ever turned up to the wrong place was for a county cup game at a council pitch in Corby. Technically it was the right field just not the right changing rooms. 2 pitches, 2 sets of changing rooms. I went to the wrong side. As it turns out both teams I was due to referee played there, talk about local derby. Was “feisty” to say the least

 

[Tealeaf]

A week early for a Cup Final last season. I’d hit bad traffic due to roadworks on the way down too so was running late for the agreed meet up time - or it would’ve been if I’d been 7 days later.

For the actual game with the previous journey in mind I allowed extra travel time and sailed through in 40 minutes as the roadworks had finished. I got there at the same time as the County guys did to start setting up.

 

[ARF]

To the best of my recollection, I've never gone to the wrong ground or turned up on the wrong day (yet, anyway...), but:
- I've had an AR arrive at 1:57 for a 2:00 ko (long injury delay in his morning game)
- Had the ref arrive at 7:30 for a 7:45 ko (traffic) in the first month of my first season as a 4 (and the other AR was also a new L4)
- I've arrived for a Step 5 middle at 2:30 for a 3:00 ko (traffic) - we did manage to kick off on time, but as penance for my sins, the following month I had two appointments involving a ferry trip
- Last summer I got locked in the grounds of the school where my CFA held our pre-season ref evening - several phone calls to the county council, police and fire service didn't solve the matter, then after about two hours I realised one of the pedestrian gates had been left unlocked, which was just big enough for me to drive my car through

 

[RefereeX]

It's happened to me twice this season on step 3/4 games with my AR going to the wrong place.
On one occasion an AR went to the away team's ground rather than the home teams ground. On the other occasion my AR went to a similarly named town approximately 45 mins away from the one we were meant to be at which coincidentally had my best mate in refereeing as the referee at that ground. That was hilarious. Thankfully, on both occasions, they made it to the correct place in time for kick off.

I think I did it once on a sunday league game a few years back when the home team have always played at the same place but for some reason this game was played elsewhere and I just didn't bother to check tbh as I presumed it would be at the usual place.

 

[ladbroke8745]

Turned up late to a step 6 game once. 3pm kick off, got there at 2:45 despite leaving the house at 12:30 to do a 12 mile journey. Rang the referee at 1:30 to say that I’d be a tad late. Kicked off at 3:15 after agreement from both teams. This was in cornwall too. Only time I’ve ever turned up to the wrong place was for a county cup game at a council pitch in Corby. Technically it was the right field just not the right changing rooms. 2 pitches, 2 sets of changing rooms. I went to the wrong side. As it turns out both teams I was due to referee played there, talk about local derby. Was “feisty” to say the least

Arriving late happened to me once before.
A game at Camberley Town, I was AR.
Pre match was asked to arrive at 1345.
The ground was about 45 minutes away. But I hate leaving it short. Wasnt aware of roadworks or anything.
Left home at 1230, grabbed a coffee from Costa en route. Got on to M25. Accident judt before M3 junction meaning tailbacks. Thankfully I know back routes as from Camberley area growing up.
Came off at Heathrow. Went through to Windsor where Legoland still had traffic backing up. Tried to get through to Ascot. Roadworks (again, wasn't aware as wasn't my expected route).
Anyway. After contacting the referee 3 times en route, I eventually got there at 250pm. No warm up. Told to get changed in 2 minutes. Kick off not changed. Still 3pm.
I was not happy but had to deal with it.
Id been happy with 315 kick off and some changing room stretches.