Gutted and Disappointed

I have been looking forward to tomorrow's planned game between Leeds FA and Bradford FA since getting the appointment last week.

These Minor FA games are great appointments and it's a measure that one arranged for Sunday is being staffed by a level 4 referee (one up from me). So having had one of my Assistants phone me on Tuesday to ask if I had heard about the game being off, I checked with the County FA who confirmed it was on. I then contacted both Assistants and confirmed the arrangements for me picking them up. I was therefore bitterly disappointed to be contacted at 6:30 tonight by Karl Griffin of Leeds FA who told me that he'd been trying to contact me all week.

Apparently the team who were lending the Leeds FA their pitch, Leeds City, had double booked it. The Leeds FA had only set tomorrow as a provisional date and advised County to be ready for confirmation. I knew that Leeds City were at home as the Fat Lad was supposed to have their game and had to give it back when his County Quarter Final was postponed last week and re-arranged for tomorrow. Instead of making it a provisional booking the County FA made a full set of appointments and to compound matters put my wrong contact number on the corespondence, as well as advising of an incorrect kick off time!

So rather despondent I phoned CS and left him a voicemail to let him know I was available, if he had anything at this late stage. He phoned back and was rather annoyed. He had known on Sunday/Monday that the game was off as the Bradford team contained a lot of players from Field Sports & Social Reserves. They had asked for a postponement of their own game tomorrow due to losing so many players to the Minor FA game and then cancelled their request on Sunday. He had known when he came to watch me at Altofts on Wednesday night but hadn't realised I was the appointed referee.

So all he had for me for tomorrow was an Assistant's role at Street Work Soccer. They are playing Bardsey who are still in with a shout of defending their title. Last time I was at Street Works, it was very "interesting", so it should be fun and it is good still to have a game!