All for £20 a match
Reporter: JOHN GILDER
Date published: 15 January 2010
IF one thing is certain in the world of amateur football, is that the vast majority of games would not take place without the hardy band of referees.
They are the ones who are often subject to dissent from players and outrage from spectators, simply because the decisions they make can never please both sides.
And, in the D&J Builders (North West) Ltd Oldham Sunday League, there is truly that breed of sturdy officials who turn out with amazing regularity to interpret and enforce the laws of the game.
In short, the referees are the ones that ensure fair play throughout the season — and all for £20 a match.
So, who exactly are these often faceless people, the ones that are talked (or should that be moaned) about long after the match has finished.
What views do they have about the players and spectators?
And what are their personal highlights of the Oldham Sunday League from their respective careers as the men in black?
The league has a comprehensive list of match officials, administered this season by referees’ secretary David Thomas.
Players and club officials could be forgiven for mistaken identity in the case of 41-year-old identical twins, Mark and Gordon Schofield.
Mark and Gordon are both new to the refereeing scene in the Oldham Sunday League.
This is Gordon’s first season in the league, but he also takes charge of games in the Bridgewater Office Supplies Manchester League and the Lancashire and Cheshire League.
Former Parkside FC player Mark is into his second year and can add last season’s second division shield final between Steven Caine FC and Rifle Range to his refereeing CV.
Being identical twins does present some minor problems, and Mark said: “Only a few weeks ago somebody congratulated me on how I had done in a match, but I had to explain that it was my brother who had actually been the referee.”
At the other end of the refereeing scale, the Oldham Sunday League has their fair share of long serving and experienced officials.
Paul Hartley, Jason Keast, Steve Leech and Tony Lever are just four examples of dedication and commitment to the league, clocking up almost seven decades of service between them.
Leech (49) comes from a strong refereeing background. His father Denis was renowned as a no-nonsense official in the league for many years up until his retirement from the game.
Denis actually dismissed his son from the pitch in a match at Grains Bar in the 1980s.
Steve said: “My dad sent me off for a deliberate handball and even went through the ritual of asking me what my name was before writing it down.”
Leech could well be experiencing something of a swansong in terms of his refereeing days.
He added: “I always said that I would finish when I’m fifty, but I’ve loving every minute of it.”
Paul’s dig at moaners
PAUL HARTLEY is the most senior official at the age of 61.
A referee in the league for 20 years, he took a bit of a swipe at the moaners among the players and spectators.
Paul said: “You’ve got to act deaf on occasions.
“When you’ve got four or five people shouting at you at the same time, there’s no chance of hearing exactly what it is they’re saying.”
Although only 42, Jason Keast has officiated in the league for 17 years, while Tony Lever has been a referee for a similar length of time.
Peter Tupman’s 10 years of refereeing in the league have curtailed somewhat over the past few seasons owing to his commitment to the Athletic Academy on Sunday mornings.
Other familiar names in the league’s list of referees, include Chris Coleman, Dave Partington, Zak Eko, Steve Roberts, Alan Hibbert, Steve Diggle and Derek Hewitt.
