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#Post#: 96547--------------------------------------------------
Favourite Referee
By: HChip Date: October 20, 2025, 5:01 am
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Apologies for the lack of questions recently, I have been quite
busy! However, I have just had one question spring to mind that
could get people talking!
Who is your favourite referee and why? Can be past, present and
at any level! Try pick one - but if you are indecisive, you can
pick two!
#Post#: 96550--------------------------------------------------
Re: Favourite Referee
By: TA_Ref Date: October 20, 2025, 6:30 am
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Unfortunately I’m not old enough as some people on this forum to
remember some of the great referees of the past. I know that
Whistleblower often mentions a referee called Joe Worrall
(correct me if I’m wrong) who I would imagine be a strong
contender for their favourite official. The only Joe Worrall I
can think of is the centre back who formerly played of
Nottingham Forest and I now believe is at Burnley.
Even then, I only properly got into the world of officiating
around 2022 so my knowledge of past and present officials is
only limited to the present I’m afraid. It all started for me
when I used to look on the EFL page every Tuesday for who would
be in charge of Ipswich’s league one games in our promotion
season. I didn’t even know of this forum for a while after that
and still took me a whole season to become a member.
But back to the question, my favourite official would have to be
Mr Sam Barrott. A referee I’ve seen in the flesh multiple times.
A couple of times when my Grandad took me to watch Gillingham
(when Barrott refereed the last game of the season Gills v
Rotherham in which Rotherham needed to win to guarantee
promotion and Gills needed to stay up to win. Sam refereed it
excellently.) And of course many times when he’s been in charge
of Ipswich games.
Saw him in the first game of our league one promotion season vs
Bolton when as usual he put in an excellent performance. And
there were other games that season he refereed well e.g.
Cambridge (A) and Charlton (H).
And it seemed our double promotion coincided with his meteoric
rise to the Premier League. He took charge of our first
championship game in 23/24 v Sunderland. Sam was also in the
middle for Leicester (H), Millwall (A) and Watford (H). And once
again saw him live in the flesh last season at Brighton (A) and
took charge of Man City (H) and Brentford (H).
What I like about Barrott is the way he referees the game. It
sounds so simple but he officiates with calmness and composure
and his demeanour is always very good. Has always looked a
natural talent whenever I’ve seen him.
So he is by some distance my favourite official but I’d like to
leave a small word in for Tony Harrington who is the most
criminally underrated official in the premier league.
#Post#: 96666--------------------------------------------------
Re: Favourite Referee
By: olliebcafc Date: October 22, 2025, 6:42 am
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My favourite referee is Martin Coy for adding 6 minutes on
against Fleetwood in May when there were next to no stoppages.
Thanks Martin!
On a serious note probably Anthony Taylor. He’s a referee I’ve
always looked up to and I’d love him to get his deserved
champions league final before he bows out in a couple of years.
#Post#: 96672--------------------------------------------------
Re: Favourite Referee
By: bmb Date: October 22, 2025, 11:08 am
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According to Daddy BMB a very young Missy bmb fell in love with
Károly Palotai when I saw him live in the European Champions Cup
Final played in Scotland mid 70's. I saw him live in the
European Cup Final 4/5 years later recognised him and spent the
entire game ref watching. He'd retired by the time I was really
getting interested in refereeing and in those days coverage of
the NBI was poor in Hungary let alone outside of it and I didn't
really get to any live games back then. Never had the pleasure
of meeting him but everyone spoke really highly of him as a
referee, referee manager and as a person. He had such a lovely
kind face. My first favourite UK based ref was Dave Allison,
little missy bmb was so in love that a photo of him replaced Mr
Spock on her bedroom wall! Absolutely lovely guy. Not sure
either of them really count though as in reality they were
simply figures that a little missy bmb was smitten by and
nothing to do with them being referees!
Time I was old enough to be into refereeing it was Joe Worrall
in the UK and Sándor Puhl in Hungary. I met Joe Worrall once
when I was 13 and he encouraged me to take the referee course. I
wrote to him via the FA when I passed a few months later and had
a beautiful letter back from him congratulating me, wishing me
all the best of luck along with a signed photo. I met Sándor 3
times and again he was lovely. He really encouraged me as well.
In latter years when he was the head of refereeing we did butt
heads a few times, via phone and email but never face to face!
He'd long been replaced by Viktor Kassai as my favourite by
then, with Andre Marriner as my UK favourite. All excellent
referees in their time.
Current favourites are István Kovács. I've watched him since he
was a young referee and thoroughly enjoyed seeing him climb the
ladder to the very top. People who've been on this forum, and
the predecessor to it will remember me raving about him long
before anyone else outside of Romania & Hungary had heard of
him. He's where he deserves to be - on merit. One of the nicest
people you could meet as well, always an added bonus. I've not
had a favourite referee from within Hungary itself since the
lovely Péter Solymosi retired in December 2021 and broke my
heart! He coaches for the MLSZ these days. I'm no more over him
retiring than I am Gábor Kiraly retiring as a player! UK-wise
Kav is my favourite, since Andre retired anyway. Such an
under-rated referee who gets far more stick than he should. Love
seeing him go from strength to strength.
#Post#: 97273--------------------------------------------------
Re: Favourite Referee
By: Whistleblower Date: November 7, 2025, 7:42 am
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TA_Ref, you are absolutely correct in mentioning my esteem for
Joe Worrall. To me he was everything a fine referee should be
and most importantly all done without a trace of apparent ego. I
have had the privilege of meeting quite a few well known
referees in my time but sadly have never, as yet, met Joe
Worrall. Perhaps, in some strange set of circumstances, one day
I might. Those people I know who have met and worked with Joe
give only the very best reports as to his demeanour and
character.
#Post#: 97280--------------------------------------------------
Re: Favourite Referee
By: RefObserver Date: November 7, 2025, 12:55 pm
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I was fortunate to have had Paul Alcock as my mentor from the
age of 14. Not the most natural referee but someone I looked up
to greatly and loved watching him on the tv.
As for favourite, Andy D'Urso was the best to work with over my
career. A really good day out.
Ray Upton from Horley on the Southern League was another.
I always enjoyed watching Paul Durkin and Alan Wiley as well as
a young referee.
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