25/12/54: Gillingham (H) Christmas Day

I don't think anyone realises that the linesman with the red flag for this game was the late father of Merv Scoble who created .net. ~ and how many present at the game that day realised he was a rabid Exeter City fan?

Mind you, if they were honest; just about every match official has a football club in their heart that they support but put that to the back of their mind when they adopt their "professional hat" and go about their business in an honest and unbiased manner.

In the early days of the Fourth Official, they were Football Association appointments made by the Area Secretary of the County FA pertinent to the club concerned. I received a few of those appointments myself, even though my time as an employee of Torquay United had not long passed....................and they were all at Plainmoor!

Two stick in my mind, one the League Cup tie with Manchester City for the City manager's (Billy McNeill) behaviour in the dug out that left me wondering just how any professional footballer could find it in themselves to play for such an abusive and incompetent bufoon. The other was a League game with Aldershot where the conduct (and hence performance) of the match referee left a lot to be desired and I was party to and witness to some truly unbelievable scenes in the dressing room and tunnel areas during half time and after the final whistle.

After all these years I would not break the code of silence. I'm sorry about that, but take it from me Monty Python AND Gerry Springer combined could not have "out drama'd" the pantomine that ensued; it truly was remarkable!