Is there no beginning to my talents?

I accepted an invitation to attend Thorp Arch, home of Leeds United's training facilities to help coach two young referees yesterday.

I wasn't sure what to expect but having had my 2 year old vomiting in his own bed and my wife blocking the downstairs toilet with her waste products before I left home, I felt I was ready for anything. No I did not put my hand down the toilet, I used the toilet brush to clear the "blockage".

So having met the Secretary of the District FA he explained that the referees were going to be looking after the U11s and U9s as they played against Everton's U11s and U9s. He was watching a referee and two assistants taking care of the U13s game between the same two teams. I was to alternate between two adjacent pitches and support the two referees with helpful pointers on their technique at the end of play in each segment. I say segment as the teams were due to play 25 minutes, 25 minutes, then a final 25 minutes split into two 12 1/2 minute "halves".

Before we got out on to the field of play, I was surprised by being asked to conduct a pre-match to all 5 officials. I was a little caught on the hop and also a little self conscious as it seemed I was being wheeled out as the wise old man. I managed a reasonable chat and David helped out, though I felt I could have done better, but that's something for me to work on. It was suggested that I might want to lead their warm-up but one of the referees said he would do it.

In hindsight, it might have been better for me to lead them through instruction as they didn't do much and all seemed frozen to the marrow when their games started. The two games I watched had a fair amount of action and the referees both did quite well but as always there were some development points for them. Some of these they worked on as the game progressed and others they will need to think about next time they pick up the whistle.

All of the club officials seemed very happy with their performances, which was a compliment as one of them was a level 3 referee I know from a few years back and another was the ex-Leeds United and Manchester United legend, Arthur Graham, whose flying runs I had enjoyed in my first few seasons watching Leeds United back in the late 1970s.

So on getting home it was time to get ready for my game in the afternoon between Ossett Town U16s and some unnamed opponents. I committed one of the cardinal sins of refereeing, I felt sorry for a player and ignored the laws of the game. More of this later ...