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Messages - Driver1123
1
« on: Fri 13 Mar 2026 19:36 »
The two games this week for Bolton both have Assistant Referees as fourth official again. This means four consecutive league games where the "eyes from the side" and, should it be needed, the backup ref, have been AR level. I know they're still trained and qualified officials and can referee at lower level, and we've had AR as 4th for the EFL Trophy group stage games (But not the "more serious" FA Cup or Carabao Cup fixtures). But until 28th February, every league fixture had a National List /SG2 referee, two assistants at the corresponding level and a National List referee as fourth.
When we played the teams around us at the top of the table we had either SG2 or, at least, very experienced National list officials. Obviously because of the gravity of the fixture. So why have we switched to using ARs as 4th suddenly for the last few games now as we head towards the 'business' end of the season? For matches involving teams like us being in the mix at the top of the table - and equally for matches requiring key decisions to affect the bottom of the table too - surely an official at referee level should be in that support role for the league games?
Since the merger of the lower steps and the incredibly long National List nowadays there is no way we can be short of qualified and experienced officials, is there?
I don’t see this as an issue myself - I haven’t checked back but feels to me like a mix of AR/refs as 4O’s this season. And whilst the referee is the senior figure, you’ve got double the chance of needing a qualified assistant rather than a qualified referee. If a game ends up with an assistant in charge and given that nearly all of the most important games have a back up referee assigned, I think you can put that down to bad luck. As I say, if a referee acting as an assistant makes a bad call in an important game, that’s also a foreseeable scenario.
I think it's a commonly forgotten point - even amongst officials themselves - that a fourth official is not just a plinth to support a numbers board, or a school type prefect telling squabbling people in the dug out to stand in single file and shut up. Nor are they only there "just in case" they need to replace an AR or the ref.
They are, as the title suggests, a fourth match official alongside the other three. On the pitch or not.
In a league where VAR does not exist, nor does goal line technology (something else that would have been very useful in the Bolton-Wycombe match on Saturday.....), the eyes, training and experience of the fourth official are the only pitchside resource that the referee - and also the clubs and fans - can turn to and rely on to help and ensure the correct decisions are made and the game is managed correctly. As I say, it rarely happens that they submit any input, and I don't know why - such as when a player gets fouled on the right side of the half way line and, despite being less than 6 feet directly in front of the 4O, he/she does not inform the referee who is still running over from his/her viewpoint of it 30 yards away, or the opposite: when a ref blows for a foul when none was committed, the player won the ball fairly and the 4O clearly saw it. Or even simpler than that, when the AR1 has clearly no idea whose leg the ball came off for the throw-in and uses pure guesswork over which arm to raise the flag in. A lot of the time it can clearly be seen (from my seat in the stand behind the benches) that the fourth saw it, and has even been seen to agree with the relevant team manager when approached about it.
They are all mic'd up. They can all communicate. They need to do so. And the right level of experience, confidence and knowledge of what to look for is essential. The gameplay, pace and flow of matches varies between divisions.....League One/Two are a totally different game to the PL/Championship. This has been seen both ways: When the newbie lower level officials joined the National List and started appearing at matches higher than they were used to, they struggled, and also when SG1/2 have been allocated to League One/Two and have a different working environment - without the previously mentioned tech backup and a totally different standard of football, they also perform differently.
Aside from any of that, of course, is the fact that there ARE more experienced and senior officials available. A significant number of them. If not injured or working their day job, possibly sitting at home watching Sky Sports+, probably also wondering why they're doing so, having been overlooked in favour of those in a more junior lower level position. Or has the season's budget been spent by this point and the lower ranks are cheaper?....
As I say, apart from this run of 4 games (last two and next two) we have had a referee as 4O for every other league fixture this season. And it was the same for last season where a referee was 4O for every league game except the final day of the season, by which point the final league positions of both teams had already been confirmed so the result wasn't as important. So, since the lists were merged and expanded from August 2024 up until 28th February 2026, there was a referee on the sidelines for 79 of the 80 league fixtures. That's not luck. So why have an AR for fixtures 81-84 and possibly beyond?
The fact that Darren Drysdale was replaced last weekend by his Fourth Official, Richard Carter (AR) highlights my point very well, especially as Mr Drysdale is supposed to be the ref at our match on Tuesday evening with another AR as his 4O.
2
« on: Tue 10 Mar 2026 20:08 »
The two games this week for Bolton both have Assistant Referees as fourth official again. This means four consecutive league games where the "eyes from the side" and, should it be needed, the backup ref, have been AR level. I know they're still trained and qualified officials and can referee at lower level, and we've had AR as 4th for the EFL Trophy group stage games (But not the "more serious" FA Cup or Carabao Cup fixtures). But until 28th February, every league fixture had a National List /SG2 referee, two assistants at the corresponding level and a National List referee as fourth.
When we played the teams around us at the top of the table we had either SG2 or, at least, very experienced National list officials. Obviously because of the gravity of the fixture. So why have we switched to using ARs as 4th suddenly for the last few games now as we head towards the 'business' end of the season? For matches involving teams like us being in the mix at the top of the table - and equally for matches requiring key decisions to affect the bottom of the table too - surely an official at referee level should be in that support role for the league games?
Since the merger of the lower steps and the incredibly long National List nowadays there is no way we can be short of qualified and experienced officials, is there?
I don’t see this as an issue myself - I haven’t checked back but feels to me like a mix of AR/refs as 4O’s this season. And whilst the referee is the senior figure, you’ve got double the chance of needing a qualified assistant rather than a qualified referee. If a game ends up with an assistant in charge and given that nearly all of the most important games have a back up referee assigned, I think you can put that down to bad luck. As I say, if a referee acting as an assistant makes a bad call in an important game, that’s also a foreseeable scenario.
I think it's a commonly forgotten point - even amongst officials themselves - that a fourth official is not just a plinth to support a numbers board, or a school type prefect telling squabbling people in the dug out to stand in single file and shut up. Nor are they only there "just in case" they need to replace an AR or the ref. They are, as the title suggests, a fourth match official alongside the other three. On the pitch or not. In a league where VAR does not exist, nor does goal line technology (something else that would have been very useful in the Bolton-Wycombe match on Saturday.....), the eyes, training and experience of the fourth official are the only pitchside resource that the referee - and also the clubs and fans - can turn to and rely on to help and ensure the correct decisions are made and the game is managed correctly. As I say, it rarely happens that they submit any input, and I don't know why - such as when a player gets fouled on the right side of the half way line and, despite being less than 6 feet directly in front of the 4O, he/she does not inform the referee who is still running over from his/her viewpoint of it 30 yards away, or the opposite: when a ref blows for a foul when none was committed, the player won the ball fairly and the 4O clearly saw it. Or even simpler than that, when the AR1 has clearly no idea whose leg the ball came off for the throw-in and uses pure guesswork over which arm to raise the flag in. A lot of the time it can clearly be seen (from my seat in the stand behind the benches) that the fourth saw it, and has even been seen to agree with the relevant team manager when approached about it. They are all mic'd up. They can all communicate. They need to do so. And the right level of experience, confidence and knowledge of what to look for is essential. The gameplay, pace and flow of matches varies between divisions.....League One/Two are a totally different game to the PL/Championship. This has been seen both ways: When the newbie lower level officials joined the National List and started appearing at matches higher than they were used to, they struggled, and also when SG1/2 have been allocated to League One/Two and have a different working environment - without the previously mentioned tech backup and a totally different standard of football, they also perform differently. Aside from any of that, of course, is the fact that there ARE more experienced and senior officials available. A significant number of them. If not injured or working their day job, possibly sitting at home watching Sky Sports+, probably also wondering why they're doing so, having been overlooked in favour of those in a more junior lower level position. Or has the season's budget been spent by this point and the lower ranks are cheaper?.... As I say, apart from this run of 4 games (last two and next two) we have had a referee as 4O for every other league fixture this season. And it was the same for last season where a referee was 4O for every league game except the final day of the season, by which point the final league positions of both teams had already been confirmed so the result wasn't as important. So, since the lists were merged and expanded from August 2024 up until 28th February 2026, there was a referee on the sidelines for 79 of the 80 league fixtures. That's not luck. So why have an AR for fixtures 81-84 and possibly beyond?
3
« on: Mon 09 Mar 2026 18:10 »
The two games this week for Bolton both have Assistant Referees as fourth official again. This means four consecutive league games where the "eyes from the side" and, should it be needed, the backup ref, have been AR level. I know they're still trained and qualified officials and can referee at lower level, and we've had AR as 4th for the EFL Trophy group stage games (But not the "more serious" FA Cup or Carabao Cup fixtures). But until 28th February, every league fixture had a National List /SG2 referee, two assistants at the corresponding level and a National List referee as fourth.
When we played the teams around us at the top of the table we had either SG2 or, at least, very experienced National list officials. Obviously because of the gravity of the fixture. So why have we switched to using ARs as 4th suddenly for the last few games now as we head towards the 'business' end of the season? For matches involving teams like us being in the mix at the top of the table - and equally for matches requiring key decisions to affect the bottom of the table too - surely an official at referee level should be in that support role for the league games?
Since the merger of the lower steps and the incredibly long National List nowadays there is no way we can be short of qualified and experienced officials, is there?
4
« on: Tue 03 Mar 2026 13:44 »
Aaron banister for our game at Solihull moors which I’ll be at seen Aaron before, and anyone seen Darren drysdale live as not seen him live as we have him at Roots hall on the Tuesday night which I’ll be at
Yes, I've seen Darren Drysdale live too many times.
He recently appeared to have forgotten some basics around penalty kicks...
That amnesia isn't recent. It was present at our place in September too.
5
« on: Mon 02 Mar 2026 17:54 »
Second league game in a row that the 4O is an AR. And i'm noticing this is the case for several matches this week.
This has happened a few times in the EFL Trophy this season but not in the other cups or the league until last Saturday.
It used to be a common sight but not since last season when the National List was extended. We've normally had a referee as fourth. And with more instances this season than most previous where an official has needed to be replaced (I've seen it twice at our games so far, some clubs have seen it more than that) I would have thought it would be sensible to have the higher level official as backup?
Especially at games affecting teams at the top or bottom of the table where experience and correct decisions at this stage of the season can dictate a lot.
Surely we're not short on referees?
6
« on: Mon 02 Mar 2026 17:28 »
Three games as Fourth for Leigh Doughty.
7
« on: Mon 23 Feb 2026 03:24 »
Over the last 40 years the two clubs have met 28 times and there hasn't been a single away win!
It goes on much longer than that!
Last time Blackpool won a match at Bolton was 19th December 1959!
Last time Bolton won a match away at Blackpool was almost as long ago: 10th September 1960
Now that's a stat for a pub quiz!
And knowing these stats, it’s a given that they’ll be an away win!
That same worry hit my mind as soon as i'd posted that. Almost as big a "What are you doing? You should not have done that" moment as Bolton goalkeeper Jack Bonham's actions at Blackpool's second goal (which DID have me thinking it was an away win...)
8
« on: Sat 21 Feb 2026 07:33 »
Over the last 40 years the two clubs have met 28 times and there hasn't been a single away win!
It goes on much longer than that! Last time Blackpool won a match at Bolton was 19th December 1959! Last time Bolton won a match away at Blackpool was almost as long ago: 10th September 1960 Now that's a stat for a pub quiz!
9
« on: Fri 20 Feb 2026 01:25 »
Richard Eley's a new one for me. What can you tell me about him?
His match, Bolton Wanderers v Blackpool would, years ago, have been one of the huge fixtures in the old top Division. Sic transit gloria mundi
And would have attracted SG1 or SG2 attention…
I would have thought a game of this magnitude would have been given to a well established referee.
According to the club's match preview page, Mr Eley has never taken charge of a Bolton OR Blackpool game before. Which, I guess, puts the jury even further out. But, equally, that could mean coming in totally neutral and a level ground for both sides. From what the last few comments have said, it's hit and miss - with more miss than hit, but that could be dependent on which end of the ground the commenter(s) were sat in. Either way, as has been said, he must be impressing someone, even if he is still somewhat of an unknown enigma to the rest of us. I'd imagine it will be a well attended match (average of 19,000 Bolton fans at home, plus the away following and, with it only being up the road, Blackpool usually bring a good few. It's also the first return of Ian Evatt since his 'slightly under a cloud' departure and, after recent results for both teams, I would imagine (if they bother to turn up) the guys on the pitch will have a bit of fire in them too (from my end, i'd certainly hope so). As has been said, a more experienced official may have been preferable and Mr Eley may be a surprise appointment. It could be a baptism of fire for him in charge of these two teams. It will certainly be a shop window with the supporters of both clubs. Of course, we might be completely surprised, maybe even impressed. We can only wait and see.
10
« on: Wed 18 Feb 2026 13:40 »
Richard Eley's a new one for me. What can you tell me about him?
11
« on: Mon 09 Feb 2026 22:18 »
Sat 14th Feb 2026
Lincoln City FC (First Team) v Bolton Wanderers FC (First Team)
Football League 1
Referee: Finnie, Will
Assistant Referee: Wigglesworth, Richard
Assistant Referee: Guest, Danny
Fourth Official: Mather, Simon
Fourth appearance for Mr Guest at a BWFC game this season, second one as fourth for Simon Mather. Richard Wigglesworth hasn't been allocated one of our matches since the same time last year. And i'm surprised to realise it's the first time we've seen Will Finnie since the same Valentines weekend in 2024. It's a key game in the league with second place vs third so i'm quite pleased with this appointment of an experienced and well thought of referee and experienced team. Tue 17th Feb 2026
Reading FC (First Team) v Bolton Wanderers FC (First Team)
Football League 1
Referee: Wright, Peter
Assistant Referee: Plane, Steven
Assistant Referee: Treleaven, Dean
Fourth Official: Breakspear, Charles
Another three officials - Plane, Treleaven and Breakspear - being seen for the first time at a Bolton game this season. However, we had Peter Wright as ref at home just a few weeks ago against Mansfield on 29th December. I was still away for the Christmas holidays so I didn't see the game and cannot give an opinion of my own. However, there was a lot of noise made in the days afterwards with some fans saying it was the "worst refereeing performance they have seen all season", it "put a dampener on their new year celebrations" etc etc. Fair to say, I don't think Mr Wright was rated highly. As I say, he's not a referee that I have seen personally yet so i'll have to wait until next week to do so. I hope my fellow fans were wrong or it was just a bad day.
12
« on: Mon 09 Feb 2026 03:14 »
Sat 7th Feb 2026
Bolton Wanderers FC (First Team) v Barnsley FC (First Team)
Football League 1
Referee: Oldham, Scott
Assistant Referee: Nolan, Oliver
Assistant Referee: Stonier, Paul
Fourth Official: Brown, Declan
As is often discussed, the standard of League One officiating is poor and the team made several incorrect decisions and missed a lot of things in favour/against both teams. At least that was consistent. In fact, there was quite a lot that Scott Oldham let go completely, again equally for both teams. There were, of course, a couple of the usual "how come that was a yellow card but an identical challenge the other way wasn't" as occurs in every game. There was a rather bizarre drop ball for the ball hitting the ref despite him ducking out of the way and it clearly missing him. The main talking point though was how Scott Oldham and Paul Stonier (who was in line and looking straight at it) took no action on the obvious out of the area handling by Owen Goodman on 72 minutes where, with feet on and partially over the edge of the line, he stooped further forward to catch and dive with the ball. [ Guests cannot view attachments ]
13
« on: Tue 23 Dec 2025 01:22 »
The thread title is incorrect. It's either Thursday 1st or Sunday 4th (which is the next game).
14
« on: Mon 27 Oct 2025 16:40 »
Bolton Wanderers FC (First Team) v Huddersfield Town FC (First Team)
FA Cup
Referee: Joyce, Ross
Assistant Referee: Sowerby, Matthew
Assistant Referee: Jarvis, Danny
Fourth Official: Burgess, Adam
Ross Joyce becomes the first referee of the season to appear twice at the Toughsheet Stadium, along with Sowerby who was his assistant on the last visit too. Adam Burgess also returns to the stadium in the fourth official role, a position he last held just 5 weeks ago on the last occasion the Bolton were in non-league (EFL Trophy) action. Shake the pot a bit please.
15
« on: Wed 01 Oct 2025 23:48 »
I haven’t checked back on RTR but Paul Marsden seems to have gone AWOL on the appointments front recently?
I’m not sure if I’ve seen one good review on here about his performances.
We've got him on the boards at Bolton vs Peterborough on Saturday. I agree, based on previous reviews of him, I hope he's not required to swap with any of the others (unlike the 4th in our last home game).
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