Pre-season starts early this year....

[ASM]

Just had a nice email from the FA appointing me to referee the pre-season friendly between Cheadle Town and Dinamo Bucharest on Monday night.

Got to be happy with that, although I've never had a pre-season with friendly games in June before!

 

[p4yno]

Nice one!!

 

[Mick Begley]

That's awesome mate well done

 

[Darren Amor]

Great appointment. But and there's always a but. Can you do a game in June?

 

[Pierluigi]

Great appointment. But and there's always a but. Can you do a game in June?

You can but you have to get special permission from the FA

 

[ASM]

Great appointment. But and there's always a but. Can you do a game in June?

You can but you have to get special permission from the FA

Exactly @Pierluigi and seeing as it came direct from Wembley it shouldn't be an issue

 

[Darren Amor]

How did the game go?

 

[ASM]

Good thanks. Obviously the gulf in quality between a Romanian top division side and one from the North West counties League Division 1 told in the second half but the game itself was a relatively quick paced skilful affair.

Players behaved sensibly, in a competitive fixture one tackle would have received a caution but otherwise I good evening at the office. Feeling it a bit this morning though I have to say.

Some photos of the game are here: https://www.flickr.com/photos/kickoffmphotography/sets/72157645398899896/with/14545364432/

 

[Elsi]

Lovely playing surface, looks like carpet!

 

[Pierluigi]

Well done mate, sounds like a great start to a hopefully great season! Seems ridiculous there weren't more people there watching!

 

[ASM]

The game had unfortunately been moved from Cheadle Town's ground to the De Vere Mottram Hall Hotel (which has an excellent training facility) at around 24 hours notice. I think this greatly reduced the number of spectators as Cheadle is within 10-15 minutes of Manchester city centre and the hotel is a little more remote.

Still, a nice start to pre-season.

 

[HullRef]

You can but you have to get special permission from the FA

Is that for all levels because I am supposed to have one on Sunday 13th July? Will I be ok to just ref it or do I need permission from someone and if so who?

 

[ASM]

@HullRef that's not a problem as 1 July officially marks the start of the new season. Technically, June is the close season and fixtures will not normally be sanctioned in that month.

 

[HullRef]

@HullRef that's not a problem as 1 July officially marks the start of the new season. Technically, June is the close season and fixtures will not normally be sanctioned in that month.

oh that's ok then

 

[ASM]

Always nice when the emails keep coming!

Another one for tomorrow now, AR for Bury v Melbourne City FC. Should be good fun.

 

[jack.prescott]

My first game is next Tuesday (29th). On the line for a Burton academy match, nice way to get going before a week long academy festival at the start of August!

 

[Aled]

My first game is next Tuesday (29th). On the line for a Burton academy match, nice way to get going before a week long academy festival at the start of August!

Academy festival? Where is it?

 

[jack.prescott]

@Aled at Oakham school in Leicestershire.

 

[Aled]

Ok, should be good then.

 

[jack.prescott]

Yeah, especially with the teams that are going to be there.


Sheffield Utd; MK Dons; Bristol Rovers; Aberdeen; Derby County;
Birmingham City; Peterboro Utd; Leicester City; Dunfermline; Sheffield
Wednesday; Watford; Leyton Orient; Millwall; Burton Albion; ISFA
(Independent Schools) and Norway.