Mick
The Ref Aficionado.
Our previous history with Tamworth amounts to just this season’s 2-0 home win (a rare Saturday home win!) so this is our first visit to the Lamb. When I first visited that ground they were about half a dozen, or more, levels below Southend and playing in (and winning) the FA Vase.
Saturday’s match will be refereed by Garreth Rhodes from York, an Operations Manager for a construction company. As a youngster he had trials with professional clubs and represented West Riding County FA at U18 level. He didn’t make it into the professional game but went on to play for Tadcaster Albion and Selby Town in the Northern Counties East League. Injuries brought his playing career to a premature end and he started refereeing in 2008. After 10 years he reached his current level and is now in his seventh season of National League matches. His very first match, Gateshead v Dover was cardless – a feat he has only managed once again in his subsequent 110 games!
This season’s 13 matches, which include an EFL Trophy match, have seen 48 yellows and, as yet, no reds.
He has refereed Southend thrice before. Most recently last season’s 3-0 defeat at Chesterfield. Scott-Morriss and two of theirs picking up yellows. Before that the 2022/23 heavy away defeat at Notts County. They got all the goals and both of the yellow cards. Coincidentally, he took charge of the corresponding fixture the season before when in the midst of an embargo and injury crisis we lost 4-1 after taking the lead. Five yellows in the match with ours going to Ralph, Brunt and Dunne.
So, three matches, no points, one goal scored, eleven conceded with him in charge. He has presided over 9 consecutive home wins. What could go wrong?
Before those matches, he was Fourth Official for away matches at Sunderland and Bolton and the home match against Forest Green when we were a Football League team.
Assisting will be cricketer and Millers supporter, Matt Bacon from Rotherham, whose last Southend match was also at Chesterfield but the season previously. Other Assistant is Wayne Gray (and no, before someone asks) from Nottinghamshire. Fourth Official is Harry Jones from Heage in Derbyshire, a Business Development Officer for Derby City Council with his first Southend appointment.
Saturday’s match will be refereed by Garreth Rhodes from York, an Operations Manager for a construction company. As a youngster he had trials with professional clubs and represented West Riding County FA at U18 level. He didn’t make it into the professional game but went on to play for Tadcaster Albion and Selby Town in the Northern Counties East League. Injuries brought his playing career to a premature end and he started refereeing in 2008. After 10 years he reached his current level and is now in his seventh season of National League matches. His very first match, Gateshead v Dover was cardless – a feat he has only managed once again in his subsequent 110 games!
This season’s 13 matches, which include an EFL Trophy match, have seen 48 yellows and, as yet, no reds.
He has refereed Southend thrice before. Most recently last season’s 3-0 defeat at Chesterfield. Scott-Morriss and two of theirs picking up yellows. Before that the 2022/23 heavy away defeat at Notts County. They got all the goals and both of the yellow cards. Coincidentally, he took charge of the corresponding fixture the season before when in the midst of an embargo and injury crisis we lost 4-1 after taking the lead. Five yellows in the match with ours going to Ralph, Brunt and Dunne.
So, three matches, no points, one goal scored, eleven conceded with him in charge. He has presided over 9 consecutive home wins. What could go wrong?
Before those matches, he was Fourth Official for away matches at Sunderland and Bolton and the home match against Forest Green when we were a Football League team.
Assisting will be cricketer and Millers supporter, Matt Bacon from Rotherham, whose last Southend match was also at Chesterfield but the season previously. Other Assistant is Wayne Gray (and no, before someone asks) from Nottinghamshire. Fourth Official is Harry Jones from Heage in Derbyshire, a Business Development Officer for Derby City Council with his first Southend appointment.
, as you say what could possibly go wrong , or, the only way is up 
