Mick
Life President
As we look to maintain our marginal advantage over one of our more regular opponents over the years (40 League wins to 37 with 25 draws), there is little to say about the referee.
It is to be first year referee, Tom Nield previously from Cromer but more recently from the West Riding of Yorkshire. One of the youngest of our referees in his mid to late twenties, he takes charge of just his 15th match at this level and his third League One fixture.
His matches this season do not appear to have attracted too much adverse criticism and, although he has yet to have a cardless League match, his card count is below average with 35 yellows and 2 reds from those 14 matches.
He rose through the ranks quickly and in 2012 he was selected to officiate in the London Paralympics acting as Assistant Referee on the Gold Medal Match between Russia and Ukraine in front of 16,000 fans.
He has refereed neither Southend nor Bristol Rovers before.
He will be assisted by the very experienced ex-Premiership lino, Ron Ganfield a member of the Somerset FA Referee Development team. Those who remember him from his Premiership days will appreciate why he is ex-Premiership. Other Assistant will be Mark Griffiths from the West Midlands and Fourth Official is Christopher Husbands from the Worcester FA Referee Development team.
It is to be first year referee, Tom Nield previously from Cromer but more recently from the West Riding of Yorkshire. One of the youngest of our referees in his mid to late twenties, he takes charge of just his 15th match at this level and his third League One fixture.
His matches this season do not appear to have attracted too much adverse criticism and, although he has yet to have a cardless League match, his card count is below average with 35 yellows and 2 reds from those 14 matches.
He rose through the ranks quickly and in 2012 he was selected to officiate in the London Paralympics acting as Assistant Referee on the Gold Medal Match between Russia and Ukraine in front of 16,000 fans.
He has refereed neither Southend nor Bristol Rovers before.
He will be assisted by the very experienced ex-Premiership lino, Ron Ganfield a member of the Somerset FA Referee Development team. Those who remember him from his Premiership days will appreciate why he is ex-Premiership. Other Assistant will be Mark Griffiths from the West Midlands and Fourth Official is Christopher Husbands from the Worcester FA Referee Development team.
