In the last few weeks at 22 acres, I’ve seen some things that have really made me think, “Get your cards out, ref.”
The first was that the James vs. Alcuin game was allowed to reach fever pitch prior to the tackle that broke Paul Reiss’ leg. It’s not the first time this fixture’s needed an ambulance, and I was watching the progressively more fierce and ferocious tackles with gritted teeth. Laleye’s challenge was hasty and badly-timed, yet it wasn’t even the worst of the game. Was he wrong to jump in as he did? His team-mates didn’t blame him; some Alcuin players even consoled him.
The second was while watching James play Langwith. James Offord had skipped past Liam Condron but hadn’t quite reached the Langwith box. Condron held him by the shirt, Offord went no further and the referee blew for a foul. James were going to get a shot away either way, but the situation effectively asked Condron the question: ‘do you want a wall of players in front of that?’ He chose the answer ‘yes please.’ The James team were rightfully incensed by this, but it was a bit of a no-brainer, even for the fairest of centre-backs.
In both cases, one thing was missing – a red card deterrent. No player wants to consign their team to an uphill struggle for the rest of the game, or spend the next two Sunday mornings watching Something For The Weekend.
Simon Mole, Phil Bowers, and Matt Hallam, captains of James, Alcuin and Derwent respectively, all spoke to me of their frustration over a lack of real discipline in games relating to these and other incidents. Hallam’s comments in particular seemed prophetic given what happened this Sunday, when he sustained a suspected broken nose while going for a 50/50 challenge.
Neither I nor the captains mentioned for a moment that these injuries were the result of any malice. Hallam, Reiss, and all the other players who are injured while playing would put their bodies on the line for their college, and the incidents were simply accidental. But nonetheless, these injuries shouldn’t happen, particularly given that 22 Acres isn’t known for having trained physicians swarming about. What’s needed are more cards; both to punish unfair play (as in the case of Condron) and dangerous tackles, even if unintentional (to ensure players’ safety).
Hallam in particular would have supported what I saw on Sunday. In a Halifax vs. Vanbrugh game that was being drowned out by players’ complaints, Matt Mawdesley was booked for dissent, having foully abused the referee. I was surprised, a mass of recent unmitigated and unpunished fouling inspiring me to write this article.
But the man in black, Chris Maughan, wasn’t your typical college football referee. He qualified at 13, has officiated for the past eight years, and feels cards are essential in football, a “means to an end,” referencing the booking as proof. It worked; afterwards, the game was played out in near silence.
Phil Bowers mentioned something more: “If funding the referees is an issue, which I suspect it is, then I am sure every player from both sides would contribute 50p or £1 once a week to pay for a qualified ref.” If this means someone in the mould of Chris Maughan would referee all four games, it would be money very well spent.