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#Post#: 100176--------------------------------------------------
Re: Worst performance ever
DIR By: Leggy
Date: January 16, 2026, 12:01 pm
---------------------------------------------------------
--- Quote from: Ref Fan link ---
>
> Re the 1970 Eric Jennings final: I think he also refereed the
replay on a very muddy pitch at OT. I stand to be corrected but
I recall he must have sharpened his pencil to write a few more
names in his note book on that evening.
>
> It's been mentioned before on RtR but subsequently David
Elleray was asked to rewatch that final based on the updated
policies for discipline. I forget how many red and yellow cards
he came up with but it was a lot!
>
> I saw Eric referee a number of times at Old Trafford for
league games. My memory is that he sauntered or lumbered round
the pitch - even more so than a certain unpopular referee on
here some 15-20 years later.
>
--- End Quote ---
My memory might be playing tricks, but I think they got Michael
Oliver to do the same (as Elleray) based on more recent
intrepretation of Law and the card count was even higher!
#Post#: 100179--------------------------------------------------
Re: Worst performance ever
DIR By: TheThingFromLewes
Date: January 16, 2026, 2:31 pm
---------------------------------------------------------
--- Quote from: Ref Fan link ---
>
> Re the 1970 Eric Jennings final: I think he also refereed the
replay on a very muddy pitch at OT. I stand to be corrected but
I recall he must have sharpened his pencil to write a few more
names in his note book on that evening.
>
> It's been mentioned before on RtR but subsequently David
Elleray was asked to rewatch that final based on the updated
policies for discipline. I forget how many red and yellow cards
he came up with but it was a lot!
>
> I saw Eric referee a number of times at Old Trafford for
league games. My memory is that he sauntered or lumbered round
the pitch - even more so than a certain unpopular referee on
here some 15-20 years later.
>
--- End Quote ---
KSH? 😜
#Post#: 100182--------------------------------------------------
Re: Worst performance ever
DIR By: PhiltheRef
Date: January 16, 2026, 4:56 pm
---------------------------------------------------------
You should really watch some of the National League Referee
performances over the past decade if you're looking for worst
ever performances
#Post#: 100183--------------------------------------------------
Re: Worst performance ever
DIR By: ROVERS461
Date: January 17, 2026, 2:24 am
---------------------------------------------------------
For me the most negligent refereeing performance ever was Coffi
Codjia in the 2010 AFCON semi final between Egypt and Algeria.
He allowed the Algeria keeper to headbutt him without sending
him off. Shameful. Glad CAF suspended the ref indefinitely after
that.
HTML https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0Il_Q-yRKT0
#Post#: 100184--------------------------------------------------
Re: Worst performance ever
DIR By: Acme Thunderer
Date: January 17, 2026, 4:34 am
---------------------------------------------------------
--- Quote from: Whistleblower link ---
>
> [quote author=Ref Fan link=topic=7617.msg100167#msg100167
date=1768573818]
> Re the 1970 Eric Jennings final: I think he also refereed the
replay on a very muddy pitch at OT. I stand to be corrected but
I recall he must have sharpened his pencil to write a few more
names in his note book on that evening.
>
> It's been mentioned before on RtR but subsequently David
Elleray was asked to rewatch that final based on the updated
policies for discipline. I forget how many red and yellow cards
he came up with but it was a lot!
>
> I saw Eric referee a number of times at Old Trafford for
league games. My memory is that he sauntered or lumbered round
the pitch - even more so than a certain unpopular referee on
here some 15-20 years later.
>
--- End Quote ---
I believe Eric Jennings was told by the hierarchy to get more of
a grip on proceedings in the Replay.
Whenever I see broadcast matches from the 1950s, 60s and 70s,
many of the referees were saunterers or lumberers. It was quite
a rarity to see referees sprinting about the pitch. What a
contrast to today where our officials are rushing about like
demented whippets much of the time.
[/quote]
In that, the hierarchy must have failed, since it was the replay
at OT rather than or in addition to the game at Plough Lane,
sorry Wembley, which galvanised the hierarchy into cleaning the
game up. Both games were in my view X-rated horrow shows.
Norman Burtenshaw was one who sprinted all over the pitch, hence
(in his words) he fell to his knees completely exhausted at the
end of 120 minutes of the FA Cup Final on a very warm afternoon
in 1971. Roger Kirkpatrick and Maurice Fussey were known for
their sprints, but they tended to be short, exaggerated and
sometimes completely unnecessary. Yes, the present day referees
are quicker but then so is the game, and the psychologists have
obviously been at work coaching top refs to sprint only when
necessary, which is fine in my view although it does seem a bit
robotic at times and means we will never see the likes of
Kirkpatrick or Fussey again.
#Post#: 100186--------------------------------------------------
Re: Worst performance ever
DIR By: Whistleblower
Date: January 17, 2026, 5:22 am
---------------------------------------------------------
--- Quote from: Acme Thunderer link ---
>
> [quote author=Whistleblower
link=topic=7617.msg100173#msg100173 date=1768582828]
> [quote author=Ref Fan link=topic=7617.msg100167#msg100167
date=1768573818]
> Re the 1970 Eric Jennings final: I think he also refereed the
replay on a very muddy pitch at OT. I stand to be corrected but
I recall he must have sharpened his pencil to write a few more
names in his note book on that evening.
>
> It's been mentioned before on RtR but subsequently David
Elleray was asked to rewatch that final based on the updated
policies for discipline. I forget how many red and yellow cards
he came up with but it was a lot!
>
> I saw Eric referee a number of times at Old Trafford for
league games. My memory is that he sauntered or lumbered round
the pitch - even more so than a certain unpopular referee on
here some 15-20 years later.
>
--- End Quote ---
I believe Eric Jennings was told by the hierarchy to get more of
a grip on proceedings in the Replay.
Whenever I see broadcast matches from the 1950s, 60s and 70s,
many of the referees were saunterers or lumberers. It was quite
a rarity to see referees sprinting about the pitch. What a
contrast to today where our officials are rushing about like
demented whippets much of the time.
[/quote]
In that, the hierarchy must have failed, since it was the replay
at OT rather than or in addition to the game at Plough Lane,
sorry Wembley, which galvanised the hierarchy into cleaning the
game up. Both games were in my view X-rated horrow shows.
Norman Burtenshaw was one who sprinted all over the pitch, hence
(in his words) he fell to his knees completely exhausted at the
end of 120 minutes of the FA Cup Final on a very warm afternoon
in 1971. Roger Kirkpatrick and Maurice Fussey were known for
their sprints, but they tended to be short, exaggerated and
sometimes completely unnecessary. Yes, the present day referees
are quicker but then so is the game, and the psychologists have
obviously been at work coaching top refs to sprint only when
necessary, which is fine in my view although it does seem a bit
robotic at times and means we will never see the likes of
Kirkpatrick or Fussey again.
[/quote]
You are right about Norman Burtenshaw and also about Roger
Kirkpatrick. Most of the latter's 'showman' sprints were when
the ball was dead. I think he developed a reputation for these
bursts of activity and then just starting playing up to his
image.
In that era, one of the fittest referees about was Alan Saunders
( Newcastle-upon-Tyne ). He really did run about quickly in
marked contrast to many of his contemporaries on the National
List at that time.
#Post#: 100208--------------------------------------------------
Re: Worst performance ever
DIR By: Acme Thunderer
Date: January 17, 2026, 7:56 am
---------------------------------------------------------
Being a Southerner, I don't think I ever saw Alan Saunders in
action. Former Surrey colleague John Martin of Alton was another
who covered a lot of ground during a game, and his fitness was
undoubtedly a factor in his being invited to stay on the list
well beyond the then normal retirement age of 48. A good ref and
good friend and colleague was John.
#Post#: 100210--------------------------------------------------
Re: Worst performance ever
DIR By: Lionator27
Date: January 17, 2026, 8:09 am
---------------------------------------------------------
Barry Knight - Ipswich v Bolton play off semi final second leg.
An otherwise fine referee had about 5 head losses in a single
half. That’s the one that sticks out and I have no connection to
either team.
#Post#: 100216--------------------------------------------------
Re: Worst performance ever
DIR By: Whistleblower
Date: January 17, 2026, 9:23 am
---------------------------------------------------------
--- Quote from: Lionator27 link ---
>
> Barry Knight - Ipswich v Bolton play off semi final second
leg. An otherwise fine referee had about 5 head losses in a
single half. That’s the one that sticks out and I have no
connection to either team.
>
--- End Quote ---
It was an extraordinary performance by Barry Knight, every
decision he made seemed to favour Ipswich. Some fellow Ipswich
supporters and I had good reason to sing a riff on the famous
Cole Porter's song "Knight and day, you are the one, only you
beneath the moon and under the sun"
#Post#: 100221--------------------------------------------------
Re: Worst performance ever
DIR By: TheThingFromLewes
Date: January 17, 2026, 9:57 am
---------------------------------------------------------
--- Quote from: Lionator27 link ---
>
> Barry Knight - Ipswich v Bolton play off semi final second
leg. An otherwise fine referee had about 5 head losses in a
single half. That’s the one that sticks out and I have no
connection to either team.
>
--- End Quote ---
With his circle red card to hand?
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