Gutted!

This was supposed to be my big weekend, I had two Assistant Referee appointments lined up (Saturday, FA Vase;Sunday, Sunday Cup) and I'm having to miss both of them because of injury.

The pull I suffered in training last week, flared up again tonight so badly that I can't even run at half pace for more than a couple of steps. I got a lot of sympathy from the referees at training but I felt no better. I felt even worse when my mate, Bobby Madley pulled up with a shin injury and he's supposed to be on a Conference game on Saturday.

So I've e-mailed the FA and the home team, Northallerton Town to advise of my withdrawal and I'll follow those up with telephone calls tomorrow morning while I'm travelling to a works training event at our Runcorn depot. I need to advise the County FA of the FA Sunday Cup withdrawal.

I also have the telephone number of a couple of physiotherapists based at my local sports centre where I have membership for the gym, spa, etc. Hopefully they can do something (miracles???) so my enforced break isn't too long.

The upside is that having spoken to the local Referee's Assessment Co-ordinator, he thinks he may have a use for me on Saturday and Sunday, so my weekend isn't a complete write-off. I can complete my third assessment which will allow the County FA to decide whether I've reached the standard required to earn FA Registered Assessor status.