Stand-in official

Am I correct in thinking this has happened in City games at least 3 times in slightly more than 12 months. I know its at least twice.

Yes, three times in two seasons. Bar those I can barely remember it at all. I remember Q running the line for us once in the closing stages of a cup game before he was employed by the club.

stillmanjunior wrote: I remember Q running the line for us once in the closing stages of a cup game before he was employed by the club.

Yes, it was against Walton & Hersham if I remember correctly.

That's right.

I wonder if we'll have more officials available if they're not berated by fans/players/officials for 90 minutes? That way we might actually have a chance of having a fourth official at this level and prevent this sort of situation arising again.

But yet more costs

It is like having a sub keeper on the bench, so rarely used not worth planning for it, always someone around to do the job.

with some of the refs at this level it isn't even worth having lino's. Some don't make their own decision all game.

Sometimes it's not even worth having refs...

Here's the ref from the famous Torhout match. He coped perfectly without any linesmen - when I asked why there were none, a bemused local replied they never had them below a certain level in Belgium!

Looking are that photo you wouldn't think it was below freezing that day!

Makes me shiver just looking at it.

Reminds me of that night at Brislington!

the fans were certainly wrapped up warm...

A couple of wimps in long trousers!

Nice sunglasses!

BenE wrote:with some of the refs at this level it isn't even worth having lino's. Some don't make their own decision all game.

For some reason and with many refs, the worst thing that can happen in a game is for the 2 officials to give contradictory decisions. Its a strange mentality. I have run the line in the past and some referees instruct their assistants to look at them first and if they have given a decision then just got with it. Means you have to give it even though you know you are wrong.