RateTheRef

One of our correspondents, Nemesis, often refers to EFL referee Alan Young after a controversial performance in an Ipswich Town match a couple of years ago.

Well, today, I was looking at Wingate and Finchley FC’s Instagram page and they had a pre match photo of the officials, team captains and mascots. And there was the referee in the middle with an EFL badge and I thought to myself “That’s got to be Alan Young”.

Looking at the Step 3/4 appointments for yesterday, indeed I was right, Alan Young was officiating Wingate and Finchley versus Carshalton Athletic. Whether Mr. Young is working his way back to fitness, or has chosen to referee at this level, or has been demoted (!), someone I’m sure can enlighten us.

I’m sure Nemesis is wishing it’s either of the last two options 😆

Not strictly true. Purely on the basis of a very small sample of relatively recent matches, he thoroughly deserves demotion.

One staggeringly awful performance came as a huge surprise as I'd seen him perform satisfactorily at League level a few times.

Furthermore he had been decent or better when I'd seen him at non-league level.

If he is working back to fitness, I wish him well. Even more so if he has chosen to revert back to non-league.

Given his job, I don't see a demotion as being credible (cronyism isn't the preserve of government).

Quote from: RefObserver on Sun 10 Oct 2021 18:01

There were a fair few out yesterday.

Messrs Robinson, Stroud and Busby of SG2 all did games.

A fair few assistants out as well.

One game in Devon had two FL assistants on it, one of them SG2 - in front of around 100 people.

And yes, it was due to a chronic shortage of officials at that level.

Do you have the appointment list for those if possible?

AFC Totton v Barnstaple Town
Referee: Stroud, Keith
Assistant Referee: Pratt, Derek
Assistant Referee: Irelan-Hill, Luke

Bedfont Sports  v Romford
Referee: Robinson, Tim
Assistant Referee: Douglas, William
Assistant Referee: Frazer, Sobastian

Melksham Town v Basingstoke Town
Referee: Busby, John
Assistant Referee: Christodoulou, Ioannis
Assistant Referee: Hall, Edward

Tooting & Mitcham United v Whitehawk
Referee: Brook, Carl
Assistant Referee: Crichlow, Jordan
Assistant Referee: Rafique, Ahmad

Willand Rovers v Mangotsfield United
Referee: Waller, Callum
Assistant Referee: Russell, Mark
Assistant Referee: Ricketts, Adam