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       #Post#: 102552--------------------------------------------------
       Fri 13th – Wed 18th MAR 2026
       By: aaa Date: March 9, 2026, 11:13 am
       ---------------------------------------------------------
       Sat 14th Mar 2026
       Doncaster Rovers FC (First Team) v Blackpool FC (First Team)
       Football League 1
       Referee: Brook, Carl
       Assistant Referee: Simpson, Joe
       Assistant Referee: Walker, Timothy
       Fourth Official: Hughes, Kenwyn
       Sat 14th Mar 2026
       Exeter City FC (First Team) v Cardiff City FC (First Team)
       Football League 1
       Referee: Speedie, Benjamin
       Assistant Referee: Morris, Kevin
       Assistant Referee: Clench, Jack
       Fourth Official: Carmichael, Marcus
       Leyton Orient FC (First Team) v Peterborough United FC (First
       Team)
       Football League 1
       Referee: Madley, Robert
       Assistant Referee: Williams, Darren
       Assistant Referee: Bickerdike, Johnathon
       Fourth Official: Searle, Isaac
       Lincoln City FC (First Team) v Stockport County FC (First Team)
       Live on SkySports+
       Football League 1
       Referee: Breakspear, Charles
       Assistant Referee: Sowerby, Matthew
       Assistant Referee: Hallam, Aaron
       Fourth Official: Archibald, Matt
       Mansfield Town F.C. (First Team) v Barnsley FC (First Team)
       Football League 1
       Referee: Woods, Martin
       Assistant Referee: Ellis, Andrew
       Assistant Referee: Cavanagh, William
       Fourth Official: Hull, Alan
       Northampton Town FC (First Team) v Burton Albion FC (First Team)
       Football League 1
       Referee: Swabey, Lee
       Assistant Referee: Wilson, Marc
       Assistant Referee: Nicholson, David
       Fourth Official: Block, Jonathon
       Port Vale FC (First Team) v Huddersfield Town FC (First Team)
       Football League 1
       Referee: Parsons, Thomas
       Assistant Referee: Williams, Ollie
       Assistant Referee: Robinson, Daniel
       Fourth Official: Roberts, Jason
       Reading FC (First Team) v Plymouth Argyle FC (First Team)
       Football League 1
       Referee: Stockbridge, Sebastian
       Assistant Referee: Smith, Rob
       Assistant Referee: Larkin, Joseph
       Fourth Official: Mulhall, Sam
       Rotherham United FC (First Team) v Bolton Wanderers FC (First
       Team)       Live on SkySports+
       Football League 1
       Referee: Oldham, James
       Assistant Referee: Bickle, Oliver
       Assistant Referee: Wesson, Sam
       Fourth Official: Felton, Niall
       Stevenage FC (First Team) v AFC Wimbledon (First Team)
       Football League 1
       Referee: Bourne, Declan
       Assistant Referee: Evans, Robert
       Assistant Referee: Sear, Karl
       Fourth Official: Laflin, George
       Wigan Athletic FC (First Team) v Bradford City FC (First Team)
       Football League 1
       Referee: Humphries, Andrew
       Assistant Referee: Cooke, Thomas
       Assistant Referee: Harty, Thomas
       Fourth Official: Nield, Jack
       Wycombe Wanderers FC (First Team) v Luton Town (First Team)
       Football League 1
       Referee: Hicks, Craig
       Assistant Referee: O'Shea, Declan
       Assistant Referee: Howick, Kevin
       Fourth Official: Martin, Ross
       Fri 13th Mar 2026
       Colchester United FC (First Team) v Crawley Town (First Team)
       Football League 2
       Referee: Finnie, Will
       Assistant Referee: D'Urso, Daniel
       Assistant Referee: Webb, Michael
       Fourth Official: Dowle, Kirsty
       Sat 14th Mar 2026
       Barnet FC (First Team) v Newport County AFC (First Team)
       Football League 2
       Referee: Mackey, Oliver
       Assistant Referee: [s]Murphy, Ross[/s] Hutton, David
       Assistant Referee: Mathieson, Alex
       Fourth Official: Cartmel, Wayne
       Barrow AFC (First Team) v Accrington Stanley FC (First Team)
       Football League 2
       Referee: Coy, Martin
       Assistant Referee: Dutton, Drew
       Assistant Referee: Moore, Anthony
       Fourth Official: Wood, Curtis
       Bromley FC (First Team) v Bristol Rovers (First Team)
       Football League 2
       Referee: Bell, Elliot
       Assistant Referee: Williams, Scott
       Assistant Referee: Crowhurst, Leigh
       Fourth Official: Dale, Alan
       Cambridge United FC (First Team) v Gillingham FC (First Team)
       Football League 2
       Referee: Barlow, Michael
       Assistant Referee: Hall, Bradley
       Assistant Referee: Lehane, Jacob
       Fourth Official: Breen, Tommy
       Crewe Alexandra FC (First Team) v Walsall FC (First Team)
       Football League 2
       Referee: Parkinson, Stephen
       Assistant Referee: Smith, Daniel
       Assistant Referee: Guest, Danny
       Fourth Official: Mustafa, Zharir
       Fleetwood Town FC (First Team) v Tranmere Rovers FC (First Team)
       Football League 2
       Referee: Heaslip, Emily
       Assistant Referee: Nolan, Oliver
       Assistant Referee: Wade, Stephen
       Fourth Official: Kennard-Kettle, Zac
       Harrogate Town FC (First Team) v Salford City FC (First Team)
       Live on SkySports+
       Football League 2
       Referee: Linington, James
       Assistant Referee: Wilson, James
       Assistant Referee: Gilroy, Hugh
       Fourth Official: Baines, Dale
       Notts County F.C. (First Team) v Chesterfield FC (First Team)
       Live on SkySports+
       Football League 2
       Referee: Corlett, Matt
       Assistant Referee: Taylor, Grant
       Assistant Referee: Jarvis, Danny
       Fourth Official: Copeland, Steven
       Oldham Athletic FC (First Team) v Grimsby Town FC (First Team)
       Football League 2
       Referee: Swallow, Elliott
       Assistant Referee: Stonier, Paul
       Assistant Referee: Grunnill, Wayne
       Fourth Official: Ryder, Mark
       Shrewsbury Town FC (First Team) v Cheltenham Town (First Team)
       Football League 2
       Referee: Sandoe, Lewis
       Assistant Referee: Topp, Jake
       Assistant Referee: Jones, Matthew
       Fourth Official: Oldham, Scott
       Swindon Town FC (First Team) v Milton Keynes Dons FC (First
       Team)
       Football League 2
       Referee: O'Connor, Jamie
       Assistant Referee: Senior, Mark
       Assistant Referee: [s]Morris, Richard J.[/s] Murphy, Ross
       Fourth Official: Rock, David
       Sat 14th Mar 2026
       Aldershot Town (First Team) v YORK CITY (First Team)
       National League - Premier
       Referee: Farmer, Aaron
       Assistant Referee: Hooper, James
       Assistant Referee: [s]Kornasiewicz, Grzegorz[/s] Farrell, Conor
       Fourth Official: [s]Farrell, Conor[/s] Kornasiewicz, Grzegorz
       Boston United FC (First Team) v Yeovil Town FC (First Team)
       National League - Premier
       Referee: Johnson, Paul
       Assistant Referee: Holmes, David
       Assistant Referee: Gray, Wayne
       Fourth Official: Murray, William
       Brackley Town FC (First Team) v Woking FC (First Team)
       National League - Premier
       Referee: Aspinall, Richard
       Assistant Referee: Brooks, Jordan
       Assistant Referee: Husband, Christopher
       Fourth Official: Whitaker, Ryan
       Eastleigh FC (First Team) v Rochdale AFC (First Team)
       Live on DAZN
       National League - Premier
       Referee: Wager, Harry
       Assistant Referee: Tranter, Adrian
       Assistant Referee: Middleton, David
       Fourth Official: Wilks, Jonathon
       Gateshead FC (First Team) v Sutton United FC (First Team)
       National League - Premier
       Referee: Marsden, Paul
       Assistant Referee: Burgess, Adam
       Assistant Referee: Scott, Gavin
       Fourth Official: Hussain, Abid
       FC Halifax Town (First Team) v Boreham Wood (First Team)
       National League - Premier
       Referee: Westgate, James
       Assistant Referee: Sibley , Francis
       Assistant Referee: Karia, Mehul
       Fourth Official: Hible, Lee
       Morecambe FC (First Team) v Braintree Town FC (First Team)
       Live on DAZN
       National League - Premier
       Referee: Miller, Andrew
       Assistant Referee: Robinson, Simon
       Assistant Referee: Harland, Thomas
       Fourth Official: Moosa, Bilal
       Scunthorpe United FC (First Team) v Altrincham FC (First Team)
       National League - Premier
       Referee: Mather, Simon
       Assistant Referee: Rushworth, Stephen
       Assistant Referee: Burrows, Michael
       Fourth Official: Forder-Hay, Jack
       Southend United FC (First Team) v Forest Green Rovers (First
       Team)          Live on DAZN
       National League - Premier
       Referee: Howard, Paul
       Assistant Referee: Head, Ryan
       Assistant Referee: Bandara, Damith
       Fourth Official: Norton, Matthew
       Tamworth FC (First Team) v Carlisle United (First Team)
       National League - Premier
       Referee: Thomas, Gareth
       Assistant Referee: Staten, Thomas
       Assistant Referee: [s]Kane, Stuart[/s] Saward, Ryan
       Fourth Official: Maskrey, Jonathan
       Truro City FC (First Team) v Hartlepool United FC (First Team)
       National League - Premier
       Referee: Baines, Daniel     Level 2 Referee
       Assistant Referee: Plane, Steven
       Assistant Referee: [s]Saward, Ryan[/s] Kane, Stuart
       Fourth Official: [s]Ouchene, Said[/s] Lane, Neil
       Wealdstone FC (First Team) v Solihull Moors FC (First Team)
       Live on DAZN
       National League - Premier
       Referee: Massey-Ellis, Robert
       Assistant Referee: Fidler, Ciaran
       Assistant Referee: Carter, Richard
       Fourth Official: Treleaven, Dean
       #Post#: 102554--------------------------------------------------
       Re: Fri 13th – Wed 18th MAR 2026
       By: aaa Date: March 9, 2026, 11:14 am
       ---------------------------------------------------------
       All live on SkySports+ unless stated
       Tue 17th Mar 2026
       AFC Wimbledon (First Team) v Leyton Orient FC (First Team)
       Football League 1
       Referee: Dale, Alan
       Assistant Referee: Block, Jonathon
       Assistant Referee: Howick, Kevin
       Fourth Official: Hicks, Craig
       Barnsley FC (First Team) v Wigan Athletic FC (First Team)
       Live on SkySports
       Football League 1
       Referee: Martin, Ross
       Assistant Referee: Hall, Bradley
       Assistant Referee: Sowerby, Matthew
       Fourth Official: Walker, Timothy
       Blackpool FC (First Team) v Port Vale FC (First Team)
       Football League 1
       Referee: Finnie, Will
       Assistant Referee: Mulraine, Kevin
       Assistant Referee: Ryder, Mark
       Fourth Official: Nolan, Oliver
       Bolton Wanderers FC (First Team) v Doncaster Rovers FC (First
       Team)
       Football League 1
       Referee: [s]Drysdale, Darren[/s] O'Connor, Jamie
       Assistant Referee: Gray, Alex
       Assistant Referee: Stonier, Paul
       Fourth Official: Robinson, Daniel
       Bradford City FC (First Team) v Mansfield Town F.C. (First Team)
       Football League 1
       Referee: [s]Corlett, Matt[/s] Oldham, James
       Assistant Referee: Moss, Matthew
       Assistant Referee: Hallam, Aaron
       Fourth Official: Jarvis, Danny
       Burton Albion FC (First Team) v Reading FC (First Team)
       Football League 1
       Referee: Duckworth, Edward
       Assistant Referee: Durnall, Steve
       Assistant Referee: Simpson, Joe
       Fourth Official: Davis, William
       Cardiff City FC (First Team) v Wycombe Wanderers FC (First Team)
       Football League 1
       Referee: Brook, Carl
       Assistant Referee: Leach, Daniel
       Assistant Referee: Hyde, Robert
       Fourth Official: Baines, Dale
       Huddersfield Town FC (First Team) v Lincoln City FC (First Team)
       Football League 1
       Referee: Speedie, Benjamin
       Assistant Referee: Lehane, Jacob
       Assistant Referee: Grunnill, Wayne
       Fourth Official: Bannister, Aaron
       Luton Town (First Team) v Exeter City FC (First Team)
       Football League 1
       Referee: Chilowicz, Alex
       Assistant Referee: Tranter, Adrian
       Assistant Referee: Finch, Stephen
       Fourth Official: Ellis, Andrew
       Peterborough United FC (First Team) v Rotherham United FC (First
       Team)
       Football League 1
       Referee: Russell, Matthew
       Assistant Referee: Wilson, Marc
       Assistant Referee: [s]Webb, Michael[/s] Evans, Robert
       Fourth Official: Laflin, George
       Plymouth Argyle FC (First Team) v Stevenage FC (First Team)
       Football League 1
       Referee: Bell, Elliot
       Assistant Referee: Venamore, Lee
       Assistant Referee: Russell, Mark
       Fourth Official: Hooper, James
       Stockport County FC (First Team) v Northampton Town FC (First
       Team)
       Football League 1
       Referee: Oldham, Scott
       Assistant Referee: Dutton, Drew
       Assistant Referee: Buckley, Karl
       Fourth Official: Woods, Martin
       Tue 17th Mar 2026
       Accrington Stanley FC (First Team) v Notts County F.C. (First
       Team)
       Football League 2
       Referee: Yates, Ollie
       Assistant Referee: Woodward, Daniel
       Assistant Referee: Dutton, Tyler
       Fourth Official: Stockbridge, Sebastian
       Bristol Rovers (First Team) v Shrewsbury Town FC (First Team)
       Football League 2
       Referee: Rock, David
       Assistant Referee: Bennett, Andy
       Assistant Referee: Read, Greg
       Fourth Official: Parkinson, Stephen
       Cheltenham Town (First Team) v Crewe Alexandra FC (First Team)
       Football League 2
       Referee: Copeland, Steven
       Assistant Referee: Murphy, Ross
       Assistant Referee: Barlow, Ciaran
       Fourth Official: Kane, Stuart
       Chesterfield FC (First Team) v Oldham Athletic FC (First Team)
       Football League 2
       Referee: Joyce, Ross
       Assistant Referee: Forder-Hay, Jack
       Assistant Referee: Wade, Stephen
       Fourth Official: Bourne, Declan
       Crawley Town (First Team) v Barnet FC (First Team)
       Football League 2
       Referee: Wager, Harry
       Assistant Referee: Taylor, Grant
       Assistant Referee: Cresswell, Alan
       Fourth Official: Fidler, Ciaran
       Gillingham FC (First Team) v Swindon Town FC (First Team)
       Football League 2
       Referee: Heaslip, Emily
       Assistant Referee: D'Urso, Daniel
       Assistant Referee: Sear, Karl
       Fourth Official: Hurst, James
       Grimsby Town FC (First Team) v Fleetwood Town FC (First Team)
       Football League 2
       Referee: Cartmel, Wayne
       Assistant Referee: Bickle, Oliver
       Assistant Referee: Newhouse, Paul
       Fourth Official: [s]O'Connor, Jamie[/s] Wesson, Sam
       Newport County AFC (First Team) v Bromley FC (First Team)
       Football League 2
       Referee: Howard, Paul
       Assistant Referee: Allen, Ashley
       Assistant Referee: Hetherington, Harley
       Fourth Official: Plane, Steven
       Salford City FC (First Team) v Barrow AFC (First Team)
       Football League 2
       Referee: Searle, Isaac
       Assistant Referee: Clayton, Samuel
       Assistant Referee: Archibald, Matt
       Fourth Official: Brooks, Jordan
       Tranmere Rovers FC (First Team) v Harrogate Town FC (First Team)
       Football League 2
       Referee: Dowle, Kirsty
       Assistant Referee: Moore, Anthony
       Assistant Referee: Aldred, Ryan
       Fourth Official: Marsden, Paul
       Walsall FC (First Team) v Cambridge United FC (First Team)
       Football League 2
       Referee: Mather, Simon
       Assistant Referee: Tewson, James
       Assistant Referee: Forrest, Keiran
       Fourth Official: [s]Oldham, James[/s] Burgess, Adam
       Wed 18th Mar 2026
       Milton Keynes Dons FC (First Team) v Colchester United FC (First
       Team)       Live on SkySports
       Football League 2
       Referee: Mulhall, Sam
       Assistant Referee: O'Shea, Declan
       Assistant Referee: Harty, Thomas
       Fourth Official: Evans, Robert
       All live on DAZN
       Tue 17th Mar 2026
       Brackley Town FC (First Team) v Solihull Moors FC (First Team)
       National League - Premier
       Referee: Walchester, Callum
       Assistant Referee: McKittrick, Harley
       Assistant Referee: Bria, Nicoleta
       Fourth Official: Donaghey, Karl
       Gateshead FC (First Team) v Wealdstone FC (First Team)
       National League - Premier
       Referee: Jackson, Aaron
       Assistant Referee: Parker, Martin
       Assistant Referee: Robinson, Michael
       Fourth Official: Lawson, Steven
       Southend United FC (First Team) v Rochdale AFC (First Team)
       National League - Premier
       Referee: Breakspear, Charles
       Assistant Referee: Shipp, Alexander
       Assistant Referee: Kelly, Paul
       Fourth Official: Hickman, Andrew
       Truro City FC (First Team) v Scunthorpe United FC (First Team)
       National League - Premier
       Referee: Quelch, Adrian
       Assistant Referee: Wilson, Adam
       Assistant Referee: Amey, Justin
       Fourth Official: Middleton, David
       Woking FC (First Team) v Yeovil Town FC (First Team)
       National League - Premier
       Referee: Watkins, Richie
       Assistant Referee: Treleaven, Dean
       Assistant Referee: Chaplin, Isabel
       Fourth Official: Bonneywell, Daniel
       #Post#: 102556--------------------------------------------------
       Re: Fri 13th – Wed 18th MAR 2026
       By: Ryanellis Date: March 9, 2026, 11:17 am
       ---------------------------------------------------------
       I believe that’s an EFL debut for Emily Heaslip - with 2 games!
       Crewe with Stephen Parkinson, who has already refereed this
       fixture last season, and Steven Copeland, who gave Crewe a
       penalty last season at home to Notts County which was ludicrous!
       #Post#: 102557--------------------------------------------------
       Re: Fri 13th – Wed 18th MAR 2026
       By: TheThingFromLewes Date: March 9, 2026, 11:19 am
       ---------------------------------------------------------
       [quote author=Ryanellis link=topic=7798.msg102556#msg102556
       date=1773073066]
       I believe that’s an EFL debut for Emily Heaslip - with 2 games!
       Crewe with Stephen Parkinson, who has already refereed this
       fixture last season, and Steven Copeland, who gave Crewe a
       penalty last season at home to Notts County which was ludicrous!
       [/quote]
       With a FIFA badge too?
       #Post#: 102559--------------------------------------------------
       Re: Fri 13th – Wed 18th MAR 2026
       By: Ryanellis Date: March 9, 2026, 11:20 am
       ---------------------------------------------------------
       [quote author=TheThingFromLewes
       link=topic=7798.msg102557#msg102557 date=1773073180]
       [quote author=Ryanellis link=topic=7798.msg102556#msg102556
       date=1773073066]
       I believe that’s an EFL debut for Emily Heaslip - with 2 games!
       Crewe with Stephen Parkinson, who has already refereed this
       fixture last season, and Steven Copeland, who gave Crewe a
       penalty last season at home to Notts County which was ludicrous!
       [/quote]
       With a FIFA badge too?
       [/quote]
       With her fifa badge being in the women’s game, I don’t think so.
       I don’t recall Kirsty Dowle or Abi Bryne having their fifa
       badges on during efl games, but I can be corrected.
       #Post#: 102560--------------------------------------------------
       Re: Fri 13th – Wed 18th MAR 2026
       By: SuffolkRef Date: March 9, 2026, 11:24 am
       ---------------------------------------------------------
       [quote author=Ryanellis link=topic=7798.msg102559#msg102559
       date=1773073250]
       [quote author=TheThingFromLewes
       link=topic=7798.msg102557#msg102557 date=1773073180]
       [quote author=Ryanellis link=topic=7798.msg102556#msg102556
       date=1773073066]
       I believe that’s an EFL debut for Emily Heaslip - with 2 games!
       Crewe with Stephen Parkinson, who has already refereed this
       fixture last season, and Steven Copeland, who gave Crewe a
       penalty last season at home to Notts County which was ludicrous!
       [/quote]
       With a FIFA badge too?
       [/quote]
       With her fifa badge being in the women’s game, I don’t think so.
       I don’t recall Kirsty Dowle or Abi Bryne having their fifa
       badges on during efl games, but I can be corrected.
       [/quote]
       In recent seasons the FIFA badge for the women's game is only
       seen in the PL. There must be an EFL rule in relation to that.
       #Post#: 102576--------------------------------------------------
       Re: Fri 13th – Wed 18th MAR 2026
       By: TheThingFromLewes Date: March 9, 2026, 12:33 pm
       ---------------------------------------------------------
       [quote author=SuffolkRef link=topic=7798.msg102560#msg102560
       date=1773073452]
       [quote author=Ryanellis link=topic=7798.msg102559#msg102559
       date=1773073250]
       [quote author=TheThingFromLewes
       link=topic=7798.msg102557#msg102557 date=1773073180]
       [quote author=Ryanellis link=topic=7798.msg102556#msg102556
       date=1773073066]
       I believe that’s an EFL debut for Emily Heaslip - with 2 games!
       Crewe with Stephen Parkinson, who has already refereed this
       fixture last season, and Steven Copeland, who gave Crewe a
       penalty last season at home to Notts County which was ludicrous!
       [/quote]
       With a FIFA badge too?
       [/quote]
       With her fifa badge being in the women’s game, I don’t think so.
       I don’t recall Kirsty Dowle or Abi Bryne having their fifa
       badges on during efl games, but I can be corrected.
       [/quote]
       In recent seasons the FIFA badge for the women's game is only
       seen in the PL. There must be an EFL rule in relation to that.
       [/quote]
       That’s a pity. That should change in all honesty.
       If it was an FA cup game then the FIFA badge would be proudly
       worn..
       .
       #Post#: 102579--------------------------------------------------
       Re: Fri 13th – Wed 18th MAR 2026
       By: Driver1123 Date: March 9, 2026, 1:10 pm
       ---------------------------------------------------------
       The two games this week for Bolton both have Assistant Referees
       as fourth official again. This means four consecutive league
       games where the "eyes from the side" and, should it be needed,
       the backup ref, have been AR level.   I know they're still
       trained and qualified officials and can referee at lower level,
       and we've had AR as 4th for the EFL Trophy group stage games
       (But not the "more serious" FA Cup or Carabao Cup fixtures).
       But until 28th February, every league fixture had a National
       List /SG2 referee, two assistants at the corresponding level and
       a National List referee as fourth.
       When we played the teams around us at the top of the table we
       had either SG2 or, at least, very experienced National list
       officials. Obviously because of the gravity of the fixture.  So
       why have we switched to using ARs as 4th suddenly for the last
       few games now as we head towards the 'business' end of the
       season?  For matches involving teams like us being in the mix at
       the top of the table - and equally for matches requiring key
       decisions to affect the bottom of the table too - surely an
       official at referee level should be in that support role for the
       league games?
       Since the merger of the lower steps and the incredibly long
       National List nowadays there is no way we can be short of
       qualified and experienced officials, is there?
       #Post#: 102585--------------------------------------------------
       Re: Fri 13th – Wed 18th MAR 2026
       By: elbee94 Date: March 9, 2026, 2:56 pm
       ---------------------------------------------------------
       [quote author=Driver1123 link=topic=7798.msg102579#msg102579
       date=1773079816]
       The two games this week for Bolton both have Assistant Referees
       as fourth official again. This means four consecutive league
       games where the "eyes from the side" and, should it be needed,
       the backup ref, have been AR level.   I know they're still
       trained and qualified officials and can referee at lower level,
       and we've had AR as 4th for the EFL Trophy group stage games
       (But not the "more serious" FA Cup or Carabao Cup fixtures).
       But until 28th February, every league fixture had a National
       List /SG2 referee, two assistants at the corresponding level and
       a National List referee as fourth.
       When we played the teams around us at the top of the table we
       had either SG2 or, at least, very experienced National list
       officials. Obviously because of the gravity of the fixture.  So
       why have we switched to using ARs as 4th suddenly for the last
       few games now as we head towards the 'business' end of the
       season?  For matches involving teams like us being in the mix at
       the top of the table - and equally for matches requiring key
       decisions to affect the bottom of the table too - surely an
       official at referee level should be in that support role for the
       league games?
       Since the merger of the lower steps and the incredibly long
       National List nowadays there is no way we can be short of
       qualified and experienced officials, is there?
       [/quote]
       I don’t see this as an issue myself - I haven’t checked back but
       feels to me like a mix of AR/refs as 4O’s this season. And
       whilst the referee is the senior figure, you’ve got double the
       chance of needing a qualified assistant rather than a qualified
       referee. If a game ends up with an assistant in charge and given
       that nearly all of the most important games have a back up
       referee assigned, I think you can put that down to bad luck. As
       I say, if a referee acting as an assistant makes a bad call in
       an important game, that’s also a foreseeable scenario.
       #Post#: 102594--------------------------------------------------
       Re: Fri 13th – Wed 18th MAR 2026
       By: olliebcafc Date: March 9, 2026, 4:12 pm
       ---------------------------------------------------------
       Linington at Harrogate, is that his first visit? Final season
       for him possibly and ticking some new grounds off?
       *****************************************************
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