Mick
The Ref Aficionado.
Our record against Sutton? Played one, lost one ….time to rectify that !
Tomorrow’s referee is Robert Massey-Ellis from Coventry, the husband (and Ellis part) of Sian Massey-Ellis who has regularly featured on televised Premier League matches proving to be one of the more reliable Assistant Referees.
Aged a little over 40, he is an Executive Director of a Medical Centre. Indeed, whilst his wife has been travelling the world officiating in all the top women’s tournaments, he has been engaged in all sorts of worthy activities. These include Operations Manager for the RSPCA, Management in the British Red Cross and Medical Manager for the British Army.
In his spare time, he has been working his way up through the ranks of non-league refereeing and is now in his fifth season as a National League referee, although for whatever reason, he only started last season at the beginning of March.
His first match at Roots Hall was our home match against Dorking in the FA Trophy when I don’t think he impressed greatly nor was he particularly bad. I don’t recall any cards. In 2021/22, he was also appointed to do the postponed home match against Maidenhead and then appointed for the Yeovil away match but changed at the last minute.
He did finally make it to Roots Hall for a League match on St Georges Day 2022 when we beat Halifax 1-0 thanks to a Kenny Clark goal. Just the two yellows shared; ours was Neal.
Then normal service resumed with him being appointed to our 2022/23 season opener at home to Boreham Wood and then reallocated with a late appointment at Barnet. Then he returned for the Torquay home match in September that year. A 2-1 defeat with 4 yellows to them and one for Kensdale. Next, he was appointed to our match at Maidstone in October. Once again, a no-show and Gavin Ward stepped in to replace him. Then came the miserable away defeat at Aldershot still in 2022/23. Seven yellows with our four going to Kensdale, Scott-Morriss, Hobson and Mooney.
Next, his match on Valentine’s Day still in 2022/23. Again Halifax, again a win, this time 2-1. Kensdale yet again, Hobson and Scott-Morriss picked up yellows along with one of theirs.
More recently, he refereed last season’s match at Wealdstone when it was eventually played. Another 2-1 win with the only cards going to Miley and Scott-Morriss. Don’t think he impressed too many at that one.
Most recently, he took charge of this season’s home 2-0 win over Fylde. He had a good match despite a controversial non-penalty when Walker appeared to be fouled, but might not have been. Just two yellows in the match to Taylor and Walker for the “dive”.
This season he has done 16 games with 53 yellows and 4 reds. In addition to our victory over Fylde they include Sutton’s win at Wealdstone. They also include, recently, his first two Football League matches.
Assisting will be Colman O’Meara, a legal support officer at Middlesex University and Russell Jones from Rickmansworth, who, in his mid-50s, is one of our more senior officials, in age terms. He is a former brand Director for Diageo, the Guinness, amongst other drinks, company and has subsequently worked for Carlsberg in Denmark where he also officiated. Now works for Hertfordshire County FA.
Fourth Official needs no introduction, especially to Kevin Maher. He is Londoner, Tommy Breen, who performed the same role, rather too busily, in the home match against Yeovil.
Tomorrow’s referee is Robert Massey-Ellis from Coventry, the husband (and Ellis part) of Sian Massey-Ellis who has regularly featured on televised Premier League matches proving to be one of the more reliable Assistant Referees.
Aged a little over 40, he is an Executive Director of a Medical Centre. Indeed, whilst his wife has been travelling the world officiating in all the top women’s tournaments, he has been engaged in all sorts of worthy activities. These include Operations Manager for the RSPCA, Management in the British Red Cross and Medical Manager for the British Army.
In his spare time, he has been working his way up through the ranks of non-league refereeing and is now in his fifth season as a National League referee, although for whatever reason, he only started last season at the beginning of March.
His first match at Roots Hall was our home match against Dorking in the FA Trophy when I don’t think he impressed greatly nor was he particularly bad. I don’t recall any cards. In 2021/22, he was also appointed to do the postponed home match against Maidenhead and then appointed for the Yeovil away match but changed at the last minute.
He did finally make it to Roots Hall for a League match on St Georges Day 2022 when we beat Halifax 1-0 thanks to a Kenny Clark goal. Just the two yellows shared; ours was Neal.
Then normal service resumed with him being appointed to our 2022/23 season opener at home to Boreham Wood and then reallocated with a late appointment at Barnet. Then he returned for the Torquay home match in September that year. A 2-1 defeat with 4 yellows to them and one for Kensdale. Next, he was appointed to our match at Maidstone in October. Once again, a no-show and Gavin Ward stepped in to replace him. Then came the miserable away defeat at Aldershot still in 2022/23. Seven yellows with our four going to Kensdale, Scott-Morriss, Hobson and Mooney.
Next, his match on Valentine’s Day still in 2022/23. Again Halifax, again a win, this time 2-1. Kensdale yet again, Hobson and Scott-Morriss picked up yellows along with one of theirs.
More recently, he refereed last season’s match at Wealdstone when it was eventually played. Another 2-1 win with the only cards going to Miley and Scott-Morriss. Don’t think he impressed too many at that one.
Most recently, he took charge of this season’s home 2-0 win over Fylde. He had a good match despite a controversial non-penalty when Walker appeared to be fouled, but might not have been. Just two yellows in the match to Taylor and Walker for the “dive”.
This season he has done 16 games with 53 yellows and 4 reds. In addition to our victory over Fylde they include Sutton’s win at Wealdstone. They also include, recently, his first two Football League matches.
Assisting will be Colman O’Meara, a legal support officer at Middlesex University and Russell Jones from Rickmansworth, who, in his mid-50s, is one of our more senior officials, in age terms. He is a former brand Director for Diageo, the Guinness, amongst other drinks, company and has subsequently worked for Carlsberg in Denmark where he also officiated. Now works for Hertfordshire County FA.
Fourth Official needs no introduction, especially to Kevin Maher. He is Londoner, Tommy Breen, who performed the same role, rather too busily, in the home match against Yeovil.
