RateTheRef

A rather easy game for Pawson 3 cautions 2 for SPA and 1 for dissent. Although don’t know if anyone else thinks that his running style seems very lethargic and laboured most of the time he almost looks uninterested. Very different to the style of Oliver and Taylor.

But very much in keeping with Hooper who seems to amble around the field and had difficulty keeping up with play

I think ungainly rather than unfit is exactly right. There are several refs around who appear ungainly in their running styles, and Huxtable, Martin and Adock immediately come to mind. There are others who seem to stroll around, take for example Marriner and Kavenagh. However all of these and others are up with play when it really matters, and the only ref who does not come into this category is (imo) Hooper, so I also agree with Hendo in this regard. At the other extreme Mason, Attwell and Woolmer always seem to cover a lot of ground during a game although I don't personally think this makes them better referees.

Someone who had a very laid back running style was the late Jack Taylor OBE. Strolled about most of the time and yet his decision making was excellent and he was always where he needed to be. Joe Worrall on the other hand would buzz about the pitch as if he had an internal dynamo. Another excellent referee. You move about the pitch in the way which best serves your officiating as todays practitioners do. Would Taylor and Worrall have coped with officiating in the modern game? Do you know, I rather believe they would.

I certainly agree about Jack and Joe, two of my favourites from yesteryear and both with completely different running styles.  Another unusual gait was that of Roger Dilkes and he would almost certainly join the aforementioned in the top ten referees of my era.

I shall, though, just a little more. When it comes to idiosyncratic running styles, few could match Denis Hedges (Oxford ). When he got up speed he would whirl his elbows around rather as if he were imitating a windmill. Tony Morrissey also had a very particular style of running .

As to Maurice Fussey. He was once described ( not by me sadly as it's great line ) as "the embodiment of authority in a tizzy"