Mick
Life President
Last time tomorrow's referee was appointed to a Southend game, just 8 weeks ago, we were looking forward slightly apprehensively to facing the division's leading team. That worked out rather well.
Once again he takes charge of our match against the top of the league team. However, as this one is away, it may not be that good an omen !
The referee is the very experienced Andy Woolmer from Northampton. This short referee with even shorter hair had the capacity to be slightly officious but he is usually reasonably steady - a safe pair of hands.
Aged 51, he was a postman by profession until he became a full-time referee as part of Select Group 2 a year and a half ago.
He finished last season early and started this season late due to injury and for some reason, although he's still on a full-time SG2 contract, he's still not been given any Championship games (maybe there is a more stringent fitness test for that level?) this season. He has spent a lot of time on "board duty".
He is in his 14th year as a League referee and has refereed Southend on very many occasions, that home win over Wigan back in February being the most recent. Four yellow cards with our only one going to Ferdinand.
Two games in quick succession last year; firstly the very poor game against Orient in the Checkatrade. (For the avoidance of doubt he wasn't poor, he was pretty good !) Just two yellows, Fortune and one of theirs. This was followed shortly after by the 3-0 home win over Bradford City. No cards whatsoever, although some would say there should have been.
Before that he officiated at Roots Hall twice the season before last, firstly presiding over our home defeat to Swindon with two cautions each (Timlin and Coker). His next most recent visit was that season's JPT match against Bristol Rovers when a rare John White goal, combined with a slightly controversially (but correctly) ruled out goal, clinched a 1-0 victory. Plenty of yellows in this one (Barrett, Atkinson, Pigott and Payne and a couple of theirs).
Before that it was the 2014/15 inevitable home defeat by Morecambe, one-nil to an early goal. Caution for Deegan and two of theirs.
Then it was the 2013/14 Friday home match against Fleetwood which we won 2-0 thanks in part to a generous penalty. Leonard and Phillips were the game's only cautions and he did fine (not just for the penalty!)
Then it was that very memorable evening a while back when we qualified for Wembley with a 2-2 draw against Orient. A good performance by him in a highly charged match. Cautions for Phillips and Prosser and three of theirs.
Prior to that was the first match of 2013 at home to Gillingham. He cautioned just one of theirs in the 1-0 defeat and the biggest criticism seemed to be not enough stoppage time. The previous two were 2011/12; firstly our comfortable win at Barnet (7 yellows and one of theirs sent off) and then the 1-0 home win against Crewe when Mohsni scored the only goal (Kalala and a couple of theirs were cautioned). Before that Wycombe at home the year before that when he wasn't too bad. Prior to that it was the same season when we lost 0-2 to Crewe. He wasn't great; nor were we.
His first visit to Roots Hall however is somewhat more memorable as it was the Boston match when he sent off Darryl and heralded the appearance of Tes the Cat (...... his name is Tes the Cat, he plays for Montserrat).
His card count this season is very low with 49 yellows from 19 games, with just 2 reds. He last refereed Blackburn back in January for their cardless win at Fleetwood.
The two assistants are Mark Dwyer from Castleford and Southend debutant, Shaun Hudson, from the seasonally-named Houghton-le-Spring in County Durham. James Bell from Sheffield will be carrying out Fourth Official duties.
Once again he takes charge of our match against the top of the league team. However, as this one is away, it may not be that good an omen !
The referee is the very experienced Andy Woolmer from Northampton. This short referee with even shorter hair had the capacity to be slightly officious but he is usually reasonably steady - a safe pair of hands.
Aged 51, he was a postman by profession until he became a full-time referee as part of Select Group 2 a year and a half ago.
He finished last season early and started this season late due to injury and for some reason, although he's still on a full-time SG2 contract, he's still not been given any Championship games (maybe there is a more stringent fitness test for that level?) this season. He has spent a lot of time on "board duty".
He is in his 14th year as a League referee and has refereed Southend on very many occasions, that home win over Wigan back in February being the most recent. Four yellow cards with our only one going to Ferdinand.
Two games in quick succession last year; firstly the very poor game against Orient in the Checkatrade. (For the avoidance of doubt he wasn't poor, he was pretty good !) Just two yellows, Fortune and one of theirs. This was followed shortly after by the 3-0 home win over Bradford City. No cards whatsoever, although some would say there should have been.
Before that he officiated at Roots Hall twice the season before last, firstly presiding over our home defeat to Swindon with two cautions each (Timlin and Coker). His next most recent visit was that season's JPT match against Bristol Rovers when a rare John White goal, combined with a slightly controversially (but correctly) ruled out goal, clinched a 1-0 victory. Plenty of yellows in this one (Barrett, Atkinson, Pigott and Payne and a couple of theirs).
Before that it was the 2014/15 inevitable home defeat by Morecambe, one-nil to an early goal. Caution for Deegan and two of theirs.
Then it was the 2013/14 Friday home match against Fleetwood which we won 2-0 thanks in part to a generous penalty. Leonard and Phillips were the game's only cautions and he did fine (not just for the penalty!)
Then it was that very memorable evening a while back when we qualified for Wembley with a 2-2 draw against Orient. A good performance by him in a highly charged match. Cautions for Phillips and Prosser and three of theirs.
Prior to that was the first match of 2013 at home to Gillingham. He cautioned just one of theirs in the 1-0 defeat and the biggest criticism seemed to be not enough stoppage time. The previous two were 2011/12; firstly our comfortable win at Barnet (7 yellows and one of theirs sent off) and then the 1-0 home win against Crewe when Mohsni scored the only goal (Kalala and a couple of theirs were cautioned). Before that Wycombe at home the year before that when he wasn't too bad. Prior to that it was the same season when we lost 0-2 to Crewe. He wasn't great; nor were we.
His first visit to Roots Hall however is somewhat more memorable as it was the Boston match when he sent off Darryl and heralded the appearance of Tes the Cat (...... his name is Tes the Cat, he plays for Montserrat).
His card count this season is very low with 49 yellows from 19 games, with just 2 reds. He last refereed Blackburn back in January for their cardless win at Fleetwood.
The two assistants are Mark Dwyer from Castleford and Southend debutant, Shaun Hudson, from the seasonally-named Houghton-le-Spring in County Durham. James Bell from Sheffield will be carrying out Fourth Official duties.
