James Tomlinson – Football Referee

Name: James Tomlinson
Location: Shropshire, UK
Sport: Local Football Referee

Football referees often get a hard time, and not much respect. What made you want to become a qualified referee?
I’ve played football all my life, since I was 13, and I am a competitive person. I have always played the game with my heart on my shirt sleeve, I went into tackles hard and was never one to turn away from a confrontation. I was booked and sent off an number of times and one day I thought, “it’s just not worth getting so involved in anymore” I stopped enjoying it, and when you stop enjoying it you know it’s time to call it a day.

I still love the game and wanted to be involved in it, so I became a ref and in my two seasons so far I have come across many colourful characters. Some good and some bad, but reffing teaches you a lot and I have been lucky enough to move up the first few rungs of the ladder quickly. I was a reformed character I suppose, and wanted to drill home to others that refs need to be respected in today’s modern game, see what it was like from the other view.

On the theme of respect, what do you think about the way many players treat the match officials, and what do you think could be done to get players to respect the referee?
Not every team has embraced the respect program as they should do, in my two seasons of reffing I have been called many things, and have reported a couple of clubs to the FA for misconduct. It’s not something I want to do but at the end of the day they must learn. The best way I found was to be respectful to the players, if you treat them the same way you expect to be treated it sets an example which hopefully they’ll follow.

Some players are great, you get to know the repeat offenders and I can handle them. I try to have a laugh with them as well and if I make a mistake I’ll hold my hands up at the end of the day which I think players appreciate. Everyone wants to win but at the end of 90 minutes most players will shake your hand. It’s a long road and the respect program will hopefully grow, however it does need to be drilled in from a top level. The Premiership and professional football is where it needs to start!

What level referee are you at now?
I started at level 7 after I passed the assessments and was promoted last year to level 6. I am going for level 5, after that it is more of a commitment. I would like to get as far as I can, it’s a very rewarding profession it keeps me fit and still involved in football which I love.

You often hear crowds at Premier League games chanting something about the referee, has this happened to you yet?
Yes, the spectators can be vocal as well, although I can’t imagine hearing it from 30,000 fans. I have been called a few things, nothing malicious but you just have to let it all wash over you. One or two have come up to me after the game and shook my hand.

Have you ever missed a ‘great game’?
I don’t think so, I have been involved in some great scraps and the league I officiate in is very competitive across all divisions, the standard of football does vary but every now and again you’ll get some 4-4 draws or a 25 yard rocket, or even a last gasp winner!

What game from football’s history would you have loved to of ‘reffed’?
I think the 1966 World Cup would have been a good one, plenty of goals, contentious decisions (well at least one) and exciting play through out. Also being surrounded by all those talented players would have been an experience as well.

What other sport would you consider officiating in?
I am into a lot of American sports, so Basketball would be one that comes to mind. It’s a fast and exciting game, played at a frenetic pace. Rugby as well would be another one, a more brutal sport than football but the refs are given a lot more respect….ironic really when you think about it.

What’s your opinion of introducing goal line technology into football?
This one will that will be debated for ages, it’s got to be for someone to say “Yes, let’s do it”. It probably would have solved a lot of arguments both professionally and down the pub. They trailed the two extra referees during the Europa league last season and I think it worked quite well. I for one am all for it, we see in sports like tennis, rugby and cricket that a third umpire works and works well, but it seems to me that those high up in the governing world of football think otherwise.

I suppose the powers that be think it might slow down the game, but I have seen substitutions and injuries take a lot longer so I don’t see what the problem would be.