Well can you believe it, the football season has already kicked off and many of you are still to go on your summer holidays.
For me the summer has been too short, I know that for sure as my golf handicap has not come down the way it ought to have.
Plus, with the coverage of the World Cup and pre-season training, it feels as if I’ve only had a few weeks off.
This time of year sees the annual head scratching over new laws and amended rules.
Well, for once, FIFA (who set the laws) have opted for the status quo (not the pop group, that’s me trying to be posh) and very little in the case of law amendments has been issued.
The two items that you will notice are that jewellery is banned apart from one wedding band that must be taped up and referees have been directed to be more vigilant at corner-kicks with all the shirt pulling and blocking off that occurs prior to the kick being taken.
Last Saturday I took charge of the Championship game between Preston and Sheffield Wednesday.
Not a classic, but one where I had to send a player off for a late, no, very late, challenge – here we go again.
One thing about the game that stood out was the fitness achieved by both sets of players.
With the temperature touching Costa Del Sol levels, players buzzed around without a care. I found it hard to match them and was glad to hear my final whistle.
Talking of fitness, I spent a wonderful (not) week as guest of the British Army at its barracks in Aldershot during July. All the Premiership refs were there for their pre-season physical fitness treat, something that I will go into in more depth in my next column, needless to say I’m glad I didn’t sign up!
This week I’m at Reading, who take on Feyenoord of Holland in their last friendly before the Premiership gets underway on the 19th.
Although I only get my appointment on a weekly basis, word on the street is that I’m refereeing in the Premiership on the opening day.
Finally, good luck to all our local sides for the forthcoming season and after partnering Long Buckby manager Aidy Mann in their annual golf day the other week, Buckby should have a good year as he’s no good at golf!
