A lot of criticism of refs & assistants just lately on here !
Although trying to remain impartial I think they are definitely swayed sometimes by the comments that come from the sidelines from supporters and more importantly managers and coaches. :whistle:
I think the refs at our level are easily swayed when it comes to decisions. I’ve definitely seen a fair bit of ‘guilt decisions’ over the past few years. Mind you, we are definitely a bunch of monaing b**tards!!
When I was umpiring I admitted prior to each game that I would not be 100% right but I also made clear I would be 100% impartial and in all honesty I think most refs are that.
WHS.
I don’t know whether its me imagining things but watching Witton play higher league opposition on the few occasions this season (Barrow, Altrincham, especially Droylsden), 90% of the 50:50 decisions always appeared to go to the higher ranked team. I’m not saying that the referees deliberately do it but it just seemms to end up that way. Whether the higher ranked teams are just that big quicker or craftier I don’t know but at the time its frustrating to say the least! SBL
Though I think Refs are usually fair I do think that at times they sway towards the higher ranked teams, pressure I suppose, rare that what happened at Old Trafford the other week happens, a bad penalty AGAINST United! Does Ferguson not remember when things go FOR his team like the “Goal” Spurs scored a few years ago?
WHS.
The ref at Alty was bloody awful.Half way through the second half he became our toughest opponent.The ref forced Ollie James to be substituted,which is just not good enough.
When it gets serious they seem to be very aware of the man in the black coat with the clipboard watching and making note of his every action.This coupled with the higher ranking oppositions rowdiness on the touchline adds up to no common sense.
I remember in our Conference days going upto Gateshead and watching a certain ref called Uriah Rennie,he was completely clueless.I believe he excelled in martial arts but he could not tell you what shape a football was.
Without wanting to shut the site down,i think i know the reason why he was fast-tracked.
Refs today get it easy, ask a few older wittoners about the stick refs and liners used to get from John yarwood (bless him ) at the central ground if he was till around they would be kept on there toes. And yes I agree that big teams seem to get the run of referees and even more so that Rennie was useless it was all about him not football.
Like wives “Can’t live with them, can’t live without them”!!!
WHS.
Harry Vickers from Crewe - a proper ref he was 
- could do with some like him today !
Had something about him, wasn’t afraid to make tough decisions and stood no nonsense.
WHS.