Ian, I have referees available but I am waiting for FT to be finalised.

Lol, favourite post of the thread.

Crofty, I wasn't intending to accuse anyone of cheating or anything, or having a moan. Just conveying what I was told at the pub as I wasn't there myself, which inevitably was that our boys were certain it was onside (as would be the case with any team that scored a goal from a close offside decision I think). Wasn't questioning your lino at all, who I'm sure called it as he saw it. Saw you looking pretty on Facebook, and my earlier comment about you going off wasn't a snipe at your ability, more a comment on how good Joe is!!

I think Dan has a point to an extent. Some clubs have linos who are fairly experienced and have a good idea what they're doing. Sometimes, it's obviously less the case. I think this has probably improved a bit in the last couple of seasons thinking about it. I can remember a few years back, a certain club often had a particular person who used to run the line, and we'd always dread it as we knew he'd give bad decisions. I can also remember having to ref a game once when a pass went out to Ashton on the wing, I could see from my angle that he was clearly onside, I could see the lino in my vision and he made no movement to raise his flag. Then as Ashton went to cross, the oppo defence called for offside and I clearly saw the lino look at his team appealing and then raise his flag in response to it. Unfortunately for me, I ignored the flag, Ashton's cross went in and the oppo weren't happy about the goal standing, but the lino had looked uncertain in several decisions already that game, and I was convinced he'd only raised the flag following the call from his defence. Makes life very difficult for any ref if you have a lino like that, let alone a rubbish one like me.

Interesting to read all of this, having been a lino myself a few times for Santos over the years. I have no formal qualifications for being a lino, and I certainly agree with Mr Flynn as regards not being "trained" at looking at both the line and the chap playing the ball through. I try to learn from what I see and read though, e.g. putting your flag at different heights depending on where the player was offside, and sometimes it is just as difficult giving the throw-in decisions when 10 players all bundle into the ball at once!

I would like to think that I have always been honest however, despite the frequent ferverent (and sometimes downright rude) responses from the opposing strikers. It's a tough job, so getting a load of abuse is never very helpful! The loudest and rudest responses to an offside call are pretty much always from the striker who spends all his time offside (at least 1 yard past last defender all the time). Makes me wonder if they know the rules... :-)

Hope all is well with the league, been a while since I put my boots on - maybe that's why Santos are doing so much better!

Sit them down and apply pressure??

I sent someone off on Saturday afternoon for abusing my club assistant. He flagged that the ball had gone out for a throw in and the winger went beserk, used the f word at least 5 times along with other expletives - see you later.

I am aware, I was just suggesting because we have rearranged to play BUCU at short notice this Sat coming.

Personally I think refs should get 7 days notice by phone from the home team as with GFA competition. If clubs are not contacting the referee, then that is very poor.

Have to say though that the quality of refs coming into the league is excellent, Neil Seymour was faultless on Saturday in our game and I haven't scored anyone under 90 yet. Brilliant addition to the league this system and well done Dan, good work!

Just as an aside, could we use the next league meeting to have a question and answer session on refereeing/laws of the game issues? It might be useful for some clubs, particularly the lino (club assistant ) issue above?

Also on the league meeting issue, can I reiterate that my church's premises could be available if geographically Mangotsfield works better for clubs

Erm...you only scored me an 80 v Pistols, and I couldn't remember there being anything to warrant such a low score
A caution for your player...which you apologised for...

I'd be up for a q and a session.

There's no way I would have over-ruled your expert linesmen.

All games are covered

I think the problem - and I'm in no way saying the lad on Saturday did this - is that some times the lino may well think he's onside but doesn't dare risk the wrath of his team-mates by going against them, therefore as soon as they call for it, the flag goes up.


For instance, in the game against Woodies I had a pretty decent view of the ball being played through, Nathan and the lino. I have no idea whether Nathan was offside or not (and I want to make it abundantly clear I'm not accusing the linesman of cheating), but there is no doubt he raised his flag very late (only after his team started appealing for it) and therefore the ref may well have read the situation like my first paragraph, hence overruling him.

I get really annoyed when on tv the pundits say 'that was a late flag'. A real lack of understanding going on there!