knellster

Yes they're still available, but I can't see your text.

Text / ring me on 07904 524766. I think I can help.

Any joy yet? If not text me on 07904 524766

As an ex-referee I'm not normally one to criticise, but the guy last night was the worst I've seen in a long time. I can actually excuse the corner From Steven Davis' shot because he and the lino were both looking side on whereas we were behind the goal, and I think he was trying to avoid stopping play for the ***t running on the pitch. However, the yellow card for Fonte was a joke, even more so when he didn't even give a free kick in the second half when their defender raised his arms to block a shot (and then went down holding his arm to confirm it was handball), and only adding five minutes is just ripping off supporters who paid to see 90 minutes of football. Jenkinson was taking an age over throw ins even before Adrian was sent off. I know it takes bottle to play 8 or 9 minutes of stoppage time, but these guys are supposed to be the best in the country so they should be brave enough to do the right thing.

Great memories. I lived in P****y at the time and worked about 500 yards from the ground so I knew only too well how much they hated us. Was in the Rutland Arms (which was just off Goldsmith Ave) before the game, and exchanged a couple of glances with other Saints fans I recognised. I was in the stand with my dad, but don't remember any trouble from their lot below. I just remember getting a bruised shin from falling over the seats in front when we scored. Still my favourite moment from over 40 years of watching Saints. The only hairy moment was several hours later back in the Rutland Arms when a work colleague came in and commented on how quiet the pub was because of the result, and then said "Oh but you're a Saints fan so you must be ecstatic". I think nobody took any notice because they didn't think anyone would be stupid enough to say that out loud if it were true.

I've got the Hampshire Telegraph (whatever happened to that?) which has good coverage of the parade. Also got tickets from Villa (h), Bradford, Palace & the Final. However, my most prized posession is the programme which is signed by all 12 players of both teams, the two managers, the referee, linesmen and reserve official. I'd got it signed by everyone except Paul Gilchrist and Mel Blyth when I saw them in the Mike Channon Suits at the Leicester game on the 30th anniversary. I was like a 10 year old when they'd signed it, and it was nice that other people (some even older than me) shared in my excitement.

I'm a bit concerned about that. My name isn't exactly common and I dread the idea of someone thinking that I'm a Skate.

Same old story. If Fonte had just cleared the bloody ball instead of trying to hold off Huntelasr there'd have been no problem.

Sadly I didn't get to demonstrate my lust on her, and I guess the fact I posted it on here suggests I'm not over it either!

I can remember reading an article in a paper complaining about the "stupid" Saints fans who couldn't forgive Bailey "for something that happened years ago" and that was when he was still at Blackburn. The 5-0 return game was sweet and he really did suffer. Didn't he always develop injuries a couple of days before visits to The Dell with Everton and then make a miraculous recovery in time for the next game? I do think we really got to him, but as others have said, much as I despised him as a footballer I wouldn't wish ill health on anyone so good luck to him. As an aside, someone I lusted after for years ended up marrying a guy called John Bailey. Apart from adding to my dislike of the name he turned out to be a complete **** as well.

Sorry it's not the same in Germany. Sky shows some of the games shown on Sky in the UK (usually those involving Man U, Arsenal or Chelsea) as well as an occasional Saturday 3pm game, but according to their website (http://www.sky.de) the only English game they are showing on 2/3/13 is Wigan v Liverpool.

Depends where you're planning on using your foreign language. If it's South America then Spanish, if it's Eastern Europe then I still find German very useful. I used to work as a translator so I had to be correct, but the best advice I could give you is that whichever language you choose don't be scared to make mistakes. Read some of the stuff on this forum and it's full of spelling and grammar errors but the message gets through. Take the same attitude with the language you learn - the number of times an error turns out to be really embarrassing is small (although I did tell my future mother-in-law that I balls were sore when I meant to say that my eyes were sore) so go for it. The appreciation from the natives makes it worthwhile, and there will be occasions when you'll overhear things you shouldn't because people don't dream that if you're English you'll understand what they're saying.

A couple of others I haven't seen mentioned: Middlesbrough away c 1981 - we won 1-0 thanks to a Keegan goal and went top of the league for the first time ever. Spurs home c 1979 - Channon's first game back as a Saints player. He scored and we won 5-2.

Like many people on here I took it up just to help out - some mates were in a low division in local football and rarely got a ref so I gave it a go. It went ok so I thought I may as well do it on a regular basis and, as has been mentioned already, get paid for it. As I progressed through the leagues it was great to be involved at a level far higher than I ever dreamed of playing at, and seeing close up just how good some players really are. Contrary to popular belief most referees do care passionately about getting decisions right especially if they determine the result of a match. Also, referees do get promoted and relegated in a similar way to clubs (although the criteria aren't as clear cut for referees so there is still a case of your face having to fit to progress). For example Andy d'Urso is now a Football League ref having been "relegated" from the list of Premier League referees. It has to be said that there were some people who seemed to do it for the power - I have lost count of the number of people who started conversations at refs' meetings by telling you exactly how many red and yellow cards they had given out. However, most people genuinely wanted to put something back into a game that had given them a lot of pleasure.

We also went out on the Persil deal. I seem to recall some fans getting grief on the ferry from Dover for having their Union Jack hanging upside down. The players had a "hit the bar" competition in training on the day of the match, and they then put it into practice during the match with a fairly easy header when we were 1-0 down (can't remember who it was though). Other memories : It was my first experience of being cs gassed, we saved a fortune by using 5p coins instead of D Marks in the Reeperbahn machines, a group of London Saints were drunkenly waving and making stupid gestures at each other across a peep show stage which must have been a bit insulting for the poor woman who was trying to entertain us; and we stayed in a tiny hotel called the Hotel Popp. Many years later when I had a bit more cash I stayed in the posh hotel next door - the two establishments couldn't have been more different.

Don't forget that Chelsea have got some previous when it comes to lying in public about what a referee said or did. The top Swedish ref had to retire to protect his family from the morons who threatened him after Mourinho claimed in a press conference that he had seen the ref invite the Barca manager into his dressing room at half time. He later admitted that he hadn't really seen it but had been told about it by someone else on the Chelsea staff, but by then it was too late.

Sorry to disagree Whitey but I don't think the second booking for Torres was "a ridiculous overreaction". It really hurts me to agree with anything Alex Ferguson says, but he was right that Torres chose to go down. Even if it wasn't simulation it definitely was exaggeration which is a yellow card offence. Unfortunately, the mindset of most players these days (and again I'm agreeing with Ferguson!!) is that they would rather get a yellow card for an opponent than try to score themselves. It may sound a bit harsh, but if a couple of players getting undeserved yellow cards rids the game of diving then frankly I think that's a price worth paying.

Got a couple of season tickets for the day in the middle tier. Gave away I was Saints by just sitting there when they scored, but people around me just started sensible conversations about how they've had the odd day like that and stuffed a few good teams at home in the past so not to worry. The bloke in front celebrated when Fox scored (we were behind that goal) and the Arsenal fans just said good on him for sticking with his team, although I'm sure there'll be plenty of people on here who will say it shows that the Arsenal fans aren't passionate 'cos they didn't kick our heads in.

@ TheCholulaKid. Yes that's the one. Thanks a lot for the link. It brought back some very happy memories.

Would have to agree with Moran 84 v Skates (still my favourite moment watching football) and Camara v Norwich. My no 3 would be Moran at Anfield in c 82. We'd been under pressure for 88 mins and Katalinic was brilliant in goal. He then scored the winner. Couldn't talk for a couple of days afterwards but it was worth it.

I know it's petty but I get really annoyed when people describe something as "really unique" or "totally unique". It's either unique or it isn't. I also cringe when I hear people using the word literally when that's exactly what they don't mean (e.g. I was so confused my head literally exploded). However, my real loathing is reserved for (usually young) people who say "and I'm like" when they mean "and then I said".

If you're going to the same place every time I would suggest getting washing etc done there and leaving your suitcase at the hotel for the weekend. That way you can avoid having to check bags in which will save a lot of time, and you don't end up treating your wife/gf like a laundry service for the couple of days a week you're at home. Also, it can often be cheaper to hire a car at your "home" airport for the weekend than to park your own car for a week - once you hire cars on a regular basis from the same company you will get some good upgrades. Finally see if you can get the company to pay for your other half to come out occasionally rather than you come home - it'll give you a chance to expore the place together (at someone else's expense).

At the risk of getting pedantic there is no advantage rule as such (which may explain why it couldn't be found on the FIFA website). There is however a duty of the referee not to penalise a player for an infringement if by doing so that player's team would benefit. If the events unfolded as described in the op then I believe the referee was wrong since awarding the free kick clearly did benefit the offending player.

I said I saw his number when he fell. Perhaps I should have said after he had fallen. The point was he then had his back to those of us behind the goal so the ref couldn't see his number. I really don't think the ref would have noted his number before the foul on the off chance that he would commit one. If he did say he wasn't intending to issue a card then he's simply wrong. I was just trying to think of a reasonable explanation as to why he didn't issue one because the idea that the foul didn't warrant it isn't reasonable.

Agree it was a terrible decision but to put paid to a few claims on here: Refs at this level are not paid a lot of money. Even in the Premier League they'll be getting less in a year than many players do in a week. The ref wouldn't have got to the level he has if he bottled big decisions and that was so clear cut it wasn't a big decision. Also if we are going to suspend this ref for a really bad mistake do we also suspend Fonte for giving away that free kick? Or Billy Sharp for missing a pen at Blackpool? Lastly one possible reason why he didn't send him off: I knew it was no 15 cos I could see his shirt when he fell. Since we were behind the goal it would mean that the ref couldn't see his no and before he got chance to identify him he was surrounded by Saints players trying to get their guy sent off. Can't think of any other reason why the card didn't come out.