Another busy one

After completing my assessment last weekend I launched myself into a week of football.

On Monday night the RA guest speaker was Ted Ring who has many years of experience in refereeing and has been mentoring my development as a Supply League assessor. Ted produced and amusing and interesting presentation drawing on the experience of the junior, senior and retired (me!) referees in the room. One of the best speakers we have had all season without doubt. On Tuesday it was an emergency meeting of the Sunday League management committee where we had a number if issues to deal with. Not least of which was arranging the replacement of the 4th official for one of the cup finals ... I got the job!!!

On Wednesday I attended the District FA meeting and contributed to the appointment of the referees for the semi finals and finals of the District Open Age competitions. On Thursday I watched Everton get knocked out of the Europa League or whatever it is they are calling the Fairs Cup these days. I also advised of my closed dates for assessing in April and received my appointments for March. I have three dates, two longish Saturday trips and a Tuesday night closer to home.

Friday was a rest day and on Saturday I headed to Leeds to assess another promotion candidate. This one was going from 7-6 and is also a member of my RA but often can't get to meetings because of work commitments. Today I had planned to watch a local game, see the District FA representative side play their latest fixture and enjoy the late afternoon watching two friends officiate in the Carling Cup Final.

As things turned out the game I wanted to watch was moved to another venue, so I set off to see James in his game. On arrival I was asked to look after a game where the referee hadn't turned up. I did the game, awarded two penalties (and had a re-take), issued two cautions, made a team re-take a free kick as it hadn't left the penalty area and had a real laugh verbally sparring with a few of the players. It turned out that the representative side game was off so I went to watch a Dad and Lad show in a District FA Junior competition semi final before heading home to catch the second half of the Carling Cup Final (thought it was a 4pm kick off!!!).

So yesterday's assessment is complete, the caution report has been mailed and now I'm putting my feet up before another busy week which includes another Sunday League management meeting on Tuesday and our first Cup semi final on Thursday. Weekend off next week though ...