RateTheRef

While being confined to barracks, due to a currently fashionable cause, I took to pondering why some  senior referees attract notice while a lot stay under the radar. Obviously in these days every referee on SG1 is going to have a high profile because of the saturation coverage of the Premiership. Down in Leagues 1 and 2 however I think there are still a few toilers who just get on with the job and don't seem to attract too much publicity. Among these I would place Rob Lewis. He has been on the National List ( or whatever it's called these days ) since 2005 and yet doesn't seem to have garnered many headlines either favourable or unfavourable. I have seen him live once, at an evening match at Birmingham City (I must have had a work engagement in England's second city)  and so decided to take in a match. Lewis's performance was entirely satisfactory and rather low key as I recall. Perhaps the low key nature of his officiating is the reason he goes under the radar somewhat.

Are there other officials whom you would place in this category ?

When you look at NL refs list there arent many in the 5/6 year category left, either gone or promoted.
One referee I do like, who arrived on the scene as no1 from reffing Conference/nat league final, is Anthony Backhouse.
His star appears to have waned but when I have seen him do games he appears well liked, confident, consistent and very fit.
Others who watch more League 1/2 football may have other/different opinions.

Another thought is someone who I first saw refereeing in the Conference and have seen a couple of times in Leagues 1 and 2 and that is Neil Hair. Officiates with a minimum of fuss and accurately. To my mind far better than some in SG2.

Thinking of referees from yesteryear. Two very reliable performers who rarely attracted any headlines were Vic Callow and Ron Groves.

And of course Mr Roger Dilkes whom sported a very fine example of beardage….

When you look at NL refs list there arent many in the 5/6 year category left, either gone or promoted.
One referee I do like, who arrived on the scene as no1 from reffing Conference/nat league final, is Anthony Backhouse.
His star appears to have waned but when I have seen him do games he appears well liked, confident, consistent and very fit.
Others who watch more League 1/2 football may have other/different opinions.

Yes, the couple of times I've seen Anthony at Gresty Road, he has been good. I think he has not helped himself on the EFL with a few baffling or downright wrong decisions (or maybe that should have earned him instant promotion to SG2 and SG1

Quote from: Whistleblower on Tue 21 Dec 2021 09:04

While being confined to barracks, due to a currently fashionable cause, I took to pondering why some  senior referees attract notice while a lot stay under the radar. Obviously in these days every referee on SG1 is going to have a high profile because of the saturation coverage of the Premiership. Down in Leagues 1 and 2 however I think there are still a few toilers who just get on with the job and don't seem to attract too much publicity. Among these I would place Rob Lewis. He has been on the National List ( or whatever it's called these days ) since 2005 and yet doesn't seem to have garnered many headlines either favourable or unfavourable. I have seen him live once, at an evening match at Birmingham City (I must have had a work engagement in England's second city)  and so decided to take in a match. Lewis's performance was entirely satisfactory and rather low key as I recall. Perhaps the low key nature of his officiating is the reason he goes under the radar somewhat.

Are there other officials whom you would place in this category ?

I bet he's not under Pedro Mendes' radar.

Presumably alluding to Lewis' career as an AR ?

If we are wandering a few years back Colin Webster and Mick Fletcher I would include

And if I may have another go, Tony Ward.   Saw him many times over the years and a steady and good referee. He now helps out with official hospitality on matchdays at the Emirates Stadium and a more pleasant and courteous individual would be hard to find.

I saw Neale Barry at Old Trafford a few times.  He came across as quite laid back, not very demonstrative or a commanding figure, and I came away from games not especially impressed but not moaning about him either.  Isn't he an Assessor or Observer or whatever they call them these days?

He was rather more important than that; head of refereeing at the FA, if I remember his title correctly, before retiring a couple of years ago.  He didn't come across as laid back in meetings with referees.  Let's just say he wasn't frightened to let you know where he stood on matters under discussion.