RateTheRef

With Dean, Atkinson and Dean Moss retiring the SG1 is losing three extremely experienced and senior referees. I wish them all well with their new ventures. Moss as a Headteacher will have considerable management experience and knowing the respect in which Atkinson is held I should think he will make a good Coach. We wait to see what Dean will do, perhaps something more with his other great passion, golf.

The next two/three years will see whether the PGMOL succession planning passes muster. I hope they won't expect too much more from Oliver and Taylor who already, with international commitments, seem to be working to near capacity. I think Tierney has been anointed as a 'big hitter' and perhaps he will step up to the mark and Coote also seems to be pushed and I am not so sure about that strategy. Attwell I think has found his optimum level already. I have little doubt that Gillett and England will be very senior members of SG1 in a couple of years time and Pawson's profile will continue to climb.

Edited because too many deans spoil the...well they must spoil something bmb

I agree with the sentiments that there’s plenty of referees already on the list that deserve more games. Last weekend I watched Brighton v Southampton and then Palace v Leeds to see Jones and England referee PL games and I’ve got to say I was very impressed with the potential of both. Jones was very much in charge of the south coast game and looked very calm and controlled without missing anything. Whilst England had a more feisty affair at Palace but equally came through it without missing too much (apart from maybe a caution for Zaha’s flailing arm).

Add into that list the newbie Gillett along with people like Kavanagh and Madley and there’s people ready to take over more big games next season! If they don’t have the chance to get bigger and better games aswell as more games in the future then their potential could stagnate so this is a great opportunity now to really show what they can do.

Also a fantastic opportunity for Moss and Atkinson to shape the future of SG1 with the inside knowledge of the group from their own experiences. Thanks for your service guys!

When the job description was released I thought it was written for 1 person.... Martin Atkinson, so surprised its Moss with Atko as the coach.

I'd say Jon Moss has got the more administrative based appointment while Martin Atkinson gets to do all of the running about and chuck the paperwork Jon's way!!

Good luck to the both of them.

I always liked seeing Jon Moss at AFCB especially before the PL days, he never looked like it was beneath him, unlike some of his peers, he always looked happy to be there and he was well liked and respected by fans and club staff alike *glares Dan Goslings way... Absolutely lovely guy as well, always had bags of time for bmb jr after a game and would happily chat refereeing and school with him. I'm sure he never expected to turn up at a game and end up helping with Year 6 SATS math revision in the car park post match yet he did just that with a huge smile on his face and with a few hugs thrown in.

Quote from: tef on Thu 28 Apr 2022 15:22

Darren Cann has been around forever (btw that's not meant to be in any way rude, he's still excellent!)

He's not allowed to retire ever! Even when he is shuffling up the line on his zimmer frame he will still be one of the best in the world!

Mr Cann has been the finest AR this country has produced….

Quote from: Failed Ref on Fri 29 Apr 2022 18:26

I too must acknowledge their contribution over many years. Capable, dependable and reliable, they both refereed to a high standard throughout their careers. Well done and thank you both.
How you replace the adrenalin kick and excitement through refereeing I do not know. Transitioning to their new roles may be difficult so I wish them well for the future.
Life moves on, newcomers will develop and improve and soon Atkinson and Moss will be forgotten. Thanks again!

In a sense that eventually most people, except the pre-eminent, are forgotten I suppose but while there are still a few codgers like myself about ( plus a few other RTR posters who know who they are but about whom I would not be so impertinent as to bracket them with my self-professed codger status ) who remember and somewhat glory in the "old days " then Dean, Moss and Atkinson will live on in the corporate refereeing memory. The likes of Jack Taylor, George Courtney, Pat Partridge and a whole host of other yesteryear referees will not be forgotten until we are forgotten and then Upton and football match programme memorabilia will ensure the names are still recognised. Will the name of Joe Worrall ever fade from consciousness ? I can guarantee not, unless my mind and memory flee or the celestial changing room welcomes me in !

Or the unforgettable Alan Turvey and Brian Coddington!

Quote from: Failed Ref on Fri 29 Apr 2022 18:26

I too must acknowledge their contribution over many years. Capable, dependable and reliable, they both refereed to a high standard throughout their careers. Well done and thank you both.
How you replace the adrenalin kick and excitement through refereeing I do not know. Transitioning to their new roles may be difficult so I wish them well for the future.
Life moves on, newcomers will develop and improve and soon Atkinson and Moss will be forgotten. Thanks again!

In a sense that eventually most people, except the pre-eminent, are forgotten I suppose but while there are still a few codgers like myself about ( plus a few other RTR posters who know who they are but about whom I would not be so impertinent as to bracket them with my self-professed codger status ) who remember and somewhat glory in the "old days " then Dean, Moss and Atkinson will live on in the corporate refereeing memory. The likes of Jack Taylor, George Courtney, Pat Partridge and a whole host of other yesteryear referees will not be forgotten until we are forgotten and then Upton and football match programme memorabilia will ensure the names are still recognised. Will the name of Joe Worrall ever fade from consciousness ? I can guarantee not, unless my mind and memory flee or the celestial changing room welcomes me in !

Well I'm only a mere nipper still (stop laughing at the back...) It always disappoints me how few people remember Palotai Károly now and cite Puhl Sándor as Hungary's best ever ref because their memory doesn't go far enough back for the true great. I was only in nappies when Palotai Károly was at the height of his career but I saw him live 3 times.  His achievements outweigh any others - he'd already represented Hungary as a player on the international stage 15 times before he even took up refereeing. He still went to 3 world cups, 1 Euros, 1 Olympics, did 2 European Champions' Cup finals, 1 European Cup Winners' Cup final and 1 UEFA cup final. No-one will ever top that but he's already mostly forgotten.  Puhl Sándor was an amazing referee and his achievements as a referee were fantastic but Palotai will always be King!

Distinguished RTR contributors recalling Turvey, Coddington and Deadman showing they are not forgotten and perhaps proving my point about the enduring nature of collective memory.

I would say Phil Sharp is the best English AR of all time. Discuss…..