santa sangria
RefChat Addict
On a whim, while on a trip to England from the frozen North, I took an invitation from an old friend to see Whitehawk play yesterday:
This is the first time I have ever watched a non-league match in England so I was fascinated. I understand this is the 8th tier.
First, the officials:
Solid show from the trio. Easy game I think. No really naughty challenges. Well-behaved players. The ref’s communication with the players was great from what I could see, especially at corners. He sold a few decisions well. He was gutted about one missed advantage. I was surprised at how straightforward the game was.
AR1 had a blinder. A couple of trickier offsides and at least two “coming back” rainbows in the second half. AR2 had a game with a few things to learn from. Had a flag up and down quickly on an inactive/wait and see early on. Then, just for me, called a great offside in front him in the corner but lost the flag 6 ft in the air. He laughed and it delighted the punters.
No comms. Buzzer flags. No 4th. I guess it would a L4 in the middle, or is the L3 already?
And the match experience:
Amazing. Out of this world. The area of Whitehawk has a terrible reputation in Brighton. What the people around this club have done is inspiring. The seats are from the old temp Withdean stands where Bton used to play, a couple of burger trucks, bar, scoreboard made from bus signs, stadium on the edge of town with a view of the sea.
I was with the “ultras”. We had to wait for the toss and changed ends at HT to stay behind the away keeper. Non stop singing. Hilarious songs. Drums, a disco ball. I was in stitches, barely able to concentrate on the footy.
The best thing though: Inclusivity. There’s a no swearing policy. The ref song is “the referee’s a referee” and the ultras sing about no homophobia, no racism, no sexism, and of course, no Eastbourne Borough!
They have something very special going on and I can’t recommend a trip to see Whitehawk highly enough
This is the first time I have ever watched a non-league match in England so I was fascinated. I understand this is the 8th tier.
First, the officials:
Solid show from the trio. Easy game I think. No really naughty challenges. Well-behaved players. The ref’s communication with the players was great from what I could see, especially at corners. He sold a few decisions well. He was gutted about one missed advantage. I was surprised at how straightforward the game was.
AR1 had a blinder. A couple of trickier offsides and at least two “coming back” rainbows in the second half. AR2 had a game with a few things to learn from. Had a flag up and down quickly on an inactive/wait and see early on. Then, just for me, called a great offside in front him in the corner but lost the flag 6 ft in the air. He laughed and it delighted the punters.
No comms. Buzzer flags. No 4th. I guess it would a L4 in the middle, or is the L3 already?
And the match experience:
Amazing. Out of this world. The area of Whitehawk has a terrible reputation in Brighton. What the people around this club have done is inspiring. The seats are from the old temp Withdean stands where Bton used to play, a couple of burger trucks, bar, scoreboard made from bus signs, stadium on the edge of town with a view of the sea.
I was with the “ultras”. We had to wait for the toss and changed ends at HT to stay behind the away keeper. Non stop singing. Hilarious songs. Drums, a disco ball. I was in stitches, barely able to concentrate on the footy.
The best thing though: Inclusivity. There’s a no swearing policy. The ref song is “the referee’s a referee” and the ultras sing about no homophobia, no racism, no sexism, and of course, no Eastbourne Borough!
They have something very special going on and I can’t recommend a trip to see Whitehawk highly enough
