In case you missed it see what’s in this section
We recommend
Let's Talk
Your Total Guide To sport
Vic Morgan: Old school refereeing, an emblem of the game
Lifelong Robins fan Vic Morgan gives his authoritative say on everything Swindon Town, each Tuesday on Total Sport. This week Morgan reflects on Town's cancelled trip to Boundary Park, filling the void with a trip down memory lane.
After a winter devoid of any white offerings from above, it's ironic that the first game of the meteorological spring saw a Saturday off for Swindon Town because of snow. Ironic and frustrating because watching the results come in, it was noticeable that the Town's game at Oldham was the only one in the country to fall foul of the weather.
So we face an April Tuesday trip to the shadow of Saddleworth Moor. Annoying also because Swindon are on a great run and would've felt confident of a decent result at Boundary Park. Oh well, let's look forward to the visit of Millwall, snow permitting.
No live football then and after a weekend of watching the game on the television, I had the chance of a walk down Memory Lane on Monday. The subject of refereeing is one which crops up continually during and after games.
We all have an opinion about how a match was officiated and the rights and wrongs of the decisions made. TV pundits endlessly dissect what an official does and whether the right call was given. Well I was taken back to the days when referees had full time jobs and yellow and red cards weren't thrown around like confetti at a wedding.
I went to a talk given by former League referee Ron Crabb. Ron was on the league list back in the the 1970's. I remember him taking charge of a Swindon game against Sheffield Wednesday which featured most of the Town's League Cup winning team and one Dave Mackay.
This was a time when there were some hard men in the game. Players like Billy Bremner and Norman Hunter were in matches that Ron took charge of. In fact, when Norman "bites your legs" Hunter played for Bristol City, Mr. Crabb declined to send him off despite the protestations of many when Wolves winger Steve Kindon was fouled.
Ron didn't think it was worthy of a dismissal and so declined to point to the dressing room. The then league secretary Alan Hardaker decided to give Ron a two week break from appointments for that decision. Mr. Hardaker you might recall was instrumental in helping Swindon play in the Anglo Italian cup competitions when they weren't allowed to play in Europe after winning the League Cup because they were in division three at the time.
Shades of last weeks ridiculous suggestion by one particular sports marketing executive, that Leicester wouldn't be welcome in the Champions League if they win the Premiership.
It was great to hear stories of matches long since played and great players that stir many a memory. The afternoon was made even better when a certain Gordon Hill took part as a member of the audience. Gordon was another of the great referees of the seventies. The Leicester schoolteacher who took charge of many top matches.
It was back to a time when the referee's decision was final and the word authority meant something.
Weather in Swindon
Listings