Time to reflect on nail-biting end to season
“Have a Big Mac and a few pints of lager.’’ Was I hearing things or did my manager Keith Hackett really say that?
Yes the season has come to a sudden end and his immortal words were spoken at our last referees’ get together at Staverton Park last week. For those lucky few who have been appointed to play-off games, they will have to wait a few more days, however yours truly has already visited Ronald McDonald a few times!?
The last month has seen me involved in the turmoil and tension of the Premiership and none more so than last Sunday when I acted as fourth official at the nail-biting encounter at Bramhall Lane when Sheffield Utd entertained fellow relegation-threatened Wigan.?
It was a game where the winner took all and the loser would be relegated, a £50m game, no pressure then! Thankfully the game, while played at frenetic speed, did not pose too many issues for the officials, however tensions spilled over in the final minutes between myself and the Wigan manager, when we had heated words over the speed with which the ball was returned into play for a throw-in. Not a great decision but one that displayed the immense pressure today’s Premiership managers find themselves under.?
We did shake hands afterwards, although I think he’d preferred to have shook my neck!?
So I suppose people will think I can put my feet up and aim to reduce my golf handicap between now and August, not so.?
Yes I suppose my body fat will increase over the next few weeks as I spend money in my local, but I have a nine-week training plan to work too. I have a week’s training camp and a 10-day tournament to look forward to in July (the tournament is in Kuala Lumpa!) and then the new season starts on August 11. So as you see not quite three months off.?
This is my last column for this season and I would like to congratulate all our local sides who have performed well, especially my friends at Woodford who have, in my opinion excelled themselves and of course my local side Long Buckby who seem to have consolidated themselves as a major force in the UCL.?
Have a great few months and go steady with the Big Macs!
