Mick
Life President
Man in charge on Saturday is Keith Hill from Hertfordshire. He is the FA's Regional Referees Manager for the East of England. Does that mean he is a top official? I'm afraid not.
He is in his 12th season and is, in my opinion, way past his best (which wasn't very good anyway). I'm sure his position has much to do with his extended run on the list as better officials seem to have been culled during this time. I do sometimes wonder if he benefits from positive discrimination.
This will be his 17th League and Cup match in charge of Southend and his 14th home game. By and large, we have done quite well with him in charge winning far more than losing. His matches have generally been littered with pickiness, inconsistency and plenty of cards, some justified.
He last visit to Roots Hall was the rearranged match against Scunthorpe; his previous visit a couple of weeks earlier when he called off the same match seconds before the scheduled kick off.
He also did Yeovil away last season.
"Highlights" of his Southend matches: the home defeat by Kingstonian in the Cup (Roget off), home win over Darlington (Searle off), the recent away defeat at Palace (one of his more ok games) and the ever so forgetable 0-0 draw at Oxford in the Cup.
Has was injured for the best part of last season, but would appear fitter this season. He has not managed a cardless match for over two and a half years but, conversely, his red card has not had an airing throughout 2009. Tempting fate I know. Yellow cards this season are no more and no less than average. I'm sure Macca doesn't want to trek up to Stockport next week anyway!
Well, Kettle defied the odds and came up with an acceptable performance. Can we get lucky twice?
Assistants are regular visitors Ian Crouch from Kent and Harry Lennard from East Sussex with Chris Knowles travelling down from Northants to do the numbers board.
He is in his 12th season and is, in my opinion, way past his best (which wasn't very good anyway). I'm sure his position has much to do with his extended run on the list as better officials seem to have been culled during this time. I do sometimes wonder if he benefits from positive discrimination.
This will be his 17th League and Cup match in charge of Southend and his 14th home game. By and large, we have done quite well with him in charge winning far more than losing. His matches have generally been littered with pickiness, inconsistency and plenty of cards, some justified.
He last visit to Roots Hall was the rearranged match against Scunthorpe; his previous visit a couple of weeks earlier when he called off the same match seconds before the scheduled kick off.
He also did Yeovil away last season.
"Highlights" of his Southend matches: the home defeat by Kingstonian in the Cup (Roget off), home win over Darlington (Searle off), the recent away defeat at Palace (one of his more ok games) and the ever so forgetable 0-0 draw at Oxford in the Cup.
Has was injured for the best part of last season, but would appear fitter this season. He has not managed a cardless match for over two and a half years but, conversely, his red card has not had an airing throughout 2009. Tempting fate I know. Yellow cards this season are no more and no less than average. I'm sure Macca doesn't want to trek up to Stockport next week anyway!
Well, Kettle defied the odds and came up with an acceptable performance. Can we get lucky twice?
Assistants are regular visitors Ian Crouch from Kent and Harry Lennard from East Sussex with Chris Knowles travelling down from Northants to do the numbers board.
