Ref Watch New Year's Day Refwatch ....... Braintree (A)

[Mick]

Competitive matches against Braintree have been limited to Essex Senior/Professional Cup games, the most recent of which, a couple of years ago, had to be switched to their ground as Roots Hall was unplayable. They were regular pre-season opponents a few years back.

Our referee for this fixture will be Sam Mulhall, previously from Northwich but he now appears to work for the FA in London as a Learning and Development Officer and also is the Anti-Doping Co-ordinator. He is the holder of a Postgraduate Certificate in Sports Coaching from Worcester University. He also holds a UEFA Certificate in Football Management from the University of Lausanne.

This is his third season as a National League referee. In 2022/23, he took charge of three Southend matches. Firstly, was the home 1-0 victory over Yeovil. As well as the early red for Yeovil there were yellows for Collin in goal, Demetriou, Powell and a couple of theirs. General consensus was that he did well. Next came the Trophy victory over Darlington, cautioning Lopata and Ralph and 3 of theirs. Towards the end of that season, he did the Scunthorpe away win, cautioning just Hobson for us and 4 of theirs.

The following season, a year and a day ago, he took charge of our narrow defeat at Barnet. Plenty of cards, not unexpectedly considering the two clubs had met at Roots Hall a few days earlier. Four apiece with ours going to Taylor, Hussin, Scott-Morriss and Vilhete.

This season he has done 12 matches with 47 yellows and 2 reds and last week was given his first ever Football League match to referee.

Assistants are Damith Bandara, from Pease Pottage in Sussex who is Assistant Head at a Primary School in Southwark and, to the best of my knowledge, the first Sri Lankan born official to make the League list and Mark Chalkey from Downham Market, Norfolk with his first Southend match.

Fourth Official needs no introduction. He is Londoner, Tommy Breen who performed the same role, rather too busily, in the home match against Yeovil.

Happy New Year, all.

 

[Harry Bullocks]

Cheers Mick, seasons greetings to you

 

[ColinMorrisWalksOnWater]

Oh Gawd, l hope Kev keeps his hands in his pockets!

 

[in the know]

Be very interesting to observe whether his advisory interaction with this ref is anywhere near what it was with the female ref in the other game. My guess would be he will be a lot less involved.

 

[Chrisb]

Anyone know the result of Kev's appeal or is it still outstanding ?

 

[Mick]

No Tommy Breen. They've shuffled around a number of Fourth Officials and he's off to Ebbsfleet. Daniel Baines, a vet from the Southend area, replaces him.

 

[ColinMorrisWalksOnWater]

2025 starting off well then.

 

[Fred]

No Tommy Breen. They've shuffled around a number of Fourth Officials and he's off to Ebbsfleet. Daniel Baines, a vet from the Southend area, replaces him.

Thank **** for that.

 

[Harry Bullocks]

I thought that the ref had a good game up until Walker was wiped out, then it all seemed to go downhill.

Think we might be in some bother with the authorities after a can was thrown on the pitch in frustration/ annoyance at the Oscar performance from their keeper

 

[The Late One]

The keeper went and complained to the referee after chips were thrown in his direction early in the second half

 

[in the know]

Is that a'salt', peppering him with chips.

 

[Holy Joe]

@Mick any views on the yellow for Bim and 'only' a yellow for their guy who chopped Walker down?? Thanks

 

[Mick]

@Mick any views on the yellow for Bim and 'only' a yellow for their guy who chopped Walker down?? Thanks

Too far away from the yellow for Bim. Judging by the direction the ball travelled I'd assume the keeper got there first.

Got an outstanding view of the foul on Walker. Not red for a goalscoring opportunity; he was in his own half. Borderline yellow/red for the tackle. If he'd given himself more time to think about it, he might have gone red.