News and media releases

JONES’ JUST REWARDS

Select Group official Mike Jones reflects on 25 years of hard work to reach top domestic level

When Mike Jones was added to the Select List for this season it was just rewards for his 25-years of hard work.

It was a back handed compliment from his PE Teacher which set him on his way as a 15-year-old schoolboy and he hasn’t looked back:

“I used to play for my school but I was always 5/6/7th sub and never used to get a game. My PE teacher then said ‘do you fancy going to take the local referees course?’

“ I went and did it and did very well on the course. I started refereeing local junior football, moved on to senior football when I was 16/17. I moved through the local leagues, onto the contributory leagues then onto panel. I achieved Football League line when I was 24/25 and then 15 season’s later after spending 11 on the Football League referee’s list I have been given the opportunity to move up to the select group list.

“He must have recognised some sort of skill that I had, a man management skill or something like that, ironically I didn’t bump into him until about 20 years later, after I did the2007 Play-Off Final and he actually took some pride in the fact that he was the person who put me on the refereeing ladder.”

Unlike footballers, who can start at the very top, match officials all have to work up through the ranks, following virtually the same career path and Jones admitted it’s not always easy:

“I can remember refereeing one game in the local Chester league, I was a very raw 16-year-old refereeing senior football and I was given a hard time to the point I ended up sending 4/5/6 off and totally lost control of the game but that was good grounding. I went away and reflected on it, as all referees do, and you come back a stronger referee.”

Those tough early years must seem like a distant memory after officiating in Play-Off Finals and The League Cup Final and now Mike is looking forward to a long and successful spell as a Select Group Referee.

 

STAY TUNED TO REFWORLD FOR THE LATEST VIDEOS - Coming on Thursday Stuart Attwell

© RefWorld. All rights reserved.