I’m now old enough to realise that to write critically of referees is almost a hanging offence so I intend to lavish some praise on the heroic decision made by a referee, who I am unable to name, to call off the Shield semi final between Cove and ourselves.
It was a home game for homeless Cove and scheduled to be played at North Lodge on Wednesday evening. The decision was supremely courageous: both managers, committees, players and ground staff were of the opinion that the pitch was playable and so strongly were they rooted in that ill-judged view that they had decided that an early inspection was unnecessary and awaited with false optimism the arrival of the match officials. Both sets of players had also arrived before the inspection took place and a climate of expectation that it would take place had obviously arisen.
It takes courage and integrity like that of the wee loon in Hans Christian Andersen’s story of the Emperor’s New Clothes who said that the big man was wearing hee haw, to stand against the throng. This ref had what it took to do that and found a “Health and Safety” case to cancel proceedings. There were a couple of soft spots where the ball wouldn’t bounce and he thought they created sufficient danger to life and limb to call things off.
There were mutterings “that abody’s oot o’ step but oor Jock” and he couldn’t know that after he departed, a full training session took place without accident or injury to anyone: he had done his bit to protect these foolhardy men who wanted to play, from injuring themselves. They will be grateful for his advanced level of insight and concern for their safety.
Scurrilous rumours of his being sighted at the Dons Celtic game can surely be dismissed on the basis that he would have needed to have a ticket at least a day before the pitch inspection.