Pressure mounts as season draws to a close
You never know what is round the corner do you? This time of the season sees the dreaded play-off matches and the deciding games in every division where the whole season’s success or failure comes down to one match or even one decision by the officials.
Two Saturdays ago I sat in my hotel room getting my kit ready to referee a division two clash between Wrexham and Torquay when my mobile went off. It was the Premier league telling me that my game had been changed and I was to get myself off to Manchester asap in order to referee United’s game against Middlesbrough live on Sky TV that afternoon.
So instead of walking out in front of 3,000 spectators, I took the field with 76,000 plus a world wide audience to monitor my every decision, and monitor them they did!
With time running out in the game, Middlesbrough attacked the United goal and a defender made a rash tackle. Was it a penalty?
From my position I saw the faintest of touches on the ball by the defender and therefore gave him the benefit of any doubt, cue the debate.
For the next three days all that seemed to matter was whether or not I’d made the correct decision. It felt like the title was to be won or lost on a single decision.
I kept a low profile and awaited the next set of appointments to see where I would be refereeing next. Southend v Luton,just the job. Whilst still a very important game for Southend, (Championship survival) not a game that would attract too much attention.
Friday morning I receive another phone call, my game has been altered for the second week running, I have been appointed to referee Portsmouth v Liverpool. Oh for a quiet game!
Luckily for me the game passes without any issues and I can safely read the Sunday papers again.
So with two matches left where do I find myself this Saturday…yes, Aston Villa v Sheff Utd live on sky TV. With Sheff Utd needing every point for Premiership survival I know that all my decisions will be picked to pieces and analyzed from every angle.
Like most things in life you never really know what’s going to happen next, but whatever it is you just have to get on with it.
