All about the referee
Bristol Rovers 1 Burnley 0, 30
August 1999
Hego
It is rare that I have a serious moan about
referees, but it would be difficult to compose this match report without mentioning Mr
Hill of Royston. Remember the old adage about the best referees being the ones you barely
notice? Well this was the other extreme. In a game played on an excellent pitch, with no
more than three dodgy challenges in the whole game, Hill managed to book TEN players (six
Burnley) and send one Bristol player off. Nine of these bookings came in a twenty minute
spell in the first half. Can you imagine what this sort of nonsense does to a potentially
good game of football? Defenders were loathe to breathe on opposing attackers in case the
dreaded yellow lead to red. Both managers were quite correctly highly critical of the man
after the game, and both will presumably be censured by the football authorities for so
doing.
Anyway, there was a game at the Memorial Ground
on Bank Holiday Monday, even though Bristol and in particular, its pubs, was closed. No
salad and champagne birthday party on the train down this time, although the London Gas
were again in evidence. Even managed to make the ground in plenty of time for the kick off
this season, along with apparently 900 other Clarets in the away end. For those not able
to make the game this year, there is a sparkling new addition behind the goal nearest the
away end: an extremely large white tent for more Gasheads has been erected across half of
the end. Very cosy. Doesn’t quite spoil the views of Bristol town.
Clarets were minus Cooke, Johnrose and the
Legend injured, Lee was unavailable and Thomas and Brass were detailed to man mark Roberts
and Cureton respectively, arguably the most potent strike force outside Turf Moor. Little
made a starting appearance, as unfortunately did Branch. Didn’t know that old man
Jepson is the reserve goalkeeper, and quite good he is too by all accounts. Sunshine, nice
pitch, noisy crowd, excellent chicken balti pasties, few beers and two teams currently
near the top of the division. All set for a good contest.
The game itself was of course a stop start
dismal affair, as it was not allowed to flow by Hill, who somehow gave FORTY TWO fouls in
the match. Bristol played quite brightly initially, particularily Pethick on the right,
and their defence was much tighter now that they have unfortunately (for the Clarets) got
rid of the Chelsea reject Lee. A Cowan back post header early on, a Payton chip and a Cook
long distance drive were the Clarets' best efforts early on before the bookings started.
In order: Cowan (24, decreed tackle from behind), Mellon (27, nothing), Roberts and
Armstrong (30, handbags). Hill then decreed that Mitchell Thomas had pulled Cureton’s
shirt in the box, allowing the latter to stroke home a 36th minute penalty,
virtually the only kick he had in the match. No response from the crowd to the incident,
even at the Bristol end. Dreadful decision, Thomas booked. More bookings followed: Cook
(39), Cureton / Little (41) and Challis (44, late tackle) before half time, as Hill left
the field to a chorus from all round the ground of "You’re not fit to
referee."
A little light relief followed with the King
Edmund’s Gym Club providing the half time entertainment. Beats dogs in tutus anyday,
but would have been impossible on a wet day at the Turf.
Payton had his best chance shortly after the
restart from a Cook through pass, but it was competently saved by the keeper. Little had
finally been deployed on the right wing to hassle the booked Challis. Robertson made a
cameo appearance for a few minutes before Stan realised, presumably, that he had put on
the wrong substitute. Pethick cross drive and Tillson with an unmarked header went close
before a free kick from our reserve goalkeeper hit the corner flag. Challis was then sent
off for a nothing challenge on Little in the 86th minute, before Thomson
rounded off proceedings with a well deserved yellow late on.
It was a pity that the unbeaten run had to end
with such an unsatisfactory game, which by rights had 0-0 written all over it. Only real
highlights were the performances of Thomas and Brass, who both had storming games. Roberts
in particular is a real physical handful, but on the day he was a ‘top pocket
job’ to the old man. So there we have it. Not much of a match report, but one to
remember for all the wrong reasons. Remember the name Hill, and check on the name of the
referee before you go to a match in the future.
Team (4-5-1):
Admirable, West, Brass, Thomas, Cowan (Robertson 63) (Mullin 79), Armstrong, Little,
Mellon, Cook (Jepson 70), Branch, Payton. Subs not used: Grant and Maylett.
Referee: K.D.
Hill – A 30 year old from
Hertfordshire, been refereeing since he was 15. Has never played serious football, and boy
did it show.
Crowd: 7,624.
London Clarets Man
of the Match: (1st) Thomas, (2nd) Brass.
Links -
The home game and this game last season
