This time last year I was tearing myself up having not received an appointment to look after any of the semi-finals or finals of the District competitions. As things turned out I was given the honour of 4th Official at the Saturday Cup Final, which I had to give back following my hamstring injury in early April. This was gratefully accepted by Jay who was chuffed to bits that he had picked up my appointment.
Circumstances then conspired to provide a vacancy for 4th Official at the Sunday Cup Final and despite being unsure about the state of my injury, I took the appointment and ended up having an easy morning before picking up a nice clock (which is currently on top of the tv) for my troubles.
So when this seasons appointments were being made I hung about outside the committee room with Titfer and Landy without much hope. All active referees are obliged to sit outside in case their relative strengths and weaknesses are discussed. The meeting seemed to go on quite a long time before we were called back in and then the appointments were announced ...
I should point out for those not experienced in how these things work ... the referees for the semi-finals are chosen on the basis of various criteria e.g. experience, current performance, etc. The referees for the semi-finals then undertake the role of assistant referees for the finals. Anyway ...
Referees for the Saturday semi-finals were announced as Fat Lad and Chewitt, with Jimmy2bob as referee for the Final - result! Fat Lad had hopes of getting the Final bearing in mind he had the Sunday Final last year as well as the Saturday (Supply) league final, but it wasn't to be.
Chewitt is having a fantastic season having been selected for e Regional Development programme which is intended to help select the PGMOL referees of tomorrow, appointed to a County Cup Final (with Jay) and well on course for his promotion to level 4 (all at the age of 19!).
Fat Lad has Marine Boy and Perry Mason on his lines for his semi-final while Chewitt has Ticker and Johnno, two very experienced lads who will do a great job of supporting him.
Then it was time to read out the appointments for the Sunday Cup semi-final and final. Shak was announced as the referee for the all-Premier Division clash and then came the moment I have waited so long for ... I was named as the referee for the second semi-final!!! I barely heard that Chuckle Elder was appointed as the referee for the Final, as my grin spread from ear to ear.
Jaybee asked if I was happy with that and all I could do was nod. Deefor offered his congratulations at the end of the meeting, as did a few other ex-referees and all offered the same advice ... just make sure you have a bloody good game (you have to love Yorkshire humour!). So that's it, I have an honour appointment, one which will see me take an active part (I don't count 4th official positions as active because of the lack of physical activity).
I am so, so pleased and honoured.
Anyway tonight I was supposed to be training. Fat Lad had a tooth extracted by the dentist today so was always doubtful. I decided that rather than travel to the next town for half an hour to get to our usual training track, I'd go "local". Going "local" meant a dozen busy junctions, some roadworks and contending with the slowest drivers in the western hemisphere. Nevertheless I reached the local track, which is also used by the County FA for their fitness tests, only to find it in complete darkness. I decided I didn't want to travel for another half hour to the usual track, so I went home and sulked (just for a second or two)
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