A Rangers fan refereeing this fixture is not a new thing; it goes back years. Beaton today, Bobby Madden, Mike McCurry, Hugh Dallas, Tiny Wharton... it's a long list.
I think it was John Hughes who suggested that referees didn't declare allegiances in Scottish football as no one would be able to referee the Old Firm: is it true that referees don't have to officially declare clubs they support in Scotland (they do so in England, don't they?)
I recall Tipton-based referee Paul Rejer needed to be called in at short notice to officiate a West Bromwich Albion game. I'm not sure if it was due to being a WBA fan or the fact that he lived less than 5 miles from the ground but West Brom's opponents had to be informed beforehand. Got to be talking late 90s or early 00s.
Nothing wrong with us fat lads having a mud wrestle on a Saturday afternoon, makes up for all the running round the pitches on a Tuesday night, doing 10 press ups everytime you drop the ball.
the fat lads were having a good roll about in the mud in the clips I saw. Would have suited hippos! No way that pitch is going to properly playable any time soon!
i don't think there are any surface quality rules. I have seen us play on some terrible pitches over the last few years. The rules are much more focussed on ground grading.
When considering the travails of Truro and Taunton in this regard it would appear to be so.
Certainly tricky. National League rules do, however, state that a member club is responsible for maintenance of its pitch. Ultimate sanction would perhaps be for a club to have its membership withdrawn!
I would take that to mean that there should be appointed ground staff to carry out maintenance. Doing something about improving drainage for exceptional weather conditions is another matter entirely.
I was of the 15 man variety as well, playing for firstly Surrey Police then Esher then Woking. All very white & middle class.
Even though, in the Nottingham Forest case, it was established that 6 points is the starting point for a single offence? Everton have been given a 2 point ‘discount’ for a second offence which rather goes against natural justice.
And Accrington have said that they cannot stage the match as the police will not agree to it.
Does Dewsbury meet the required standards (the ability to segregate, for example)?
I am a die-hard Liverpool fan who has been on the season ticket waiting list for 18 years. I strongly disagree with this protest.