Select Group Keith Stroud
appointed to the FIFA International Assistant Referees list in 2004. Joined the Select Group Referees list in 2007.
How did you get introduced into refereeing?
I was a player (not a very good one) in 'parks football' and after being left out of the team for a few weeks, I ran the line for my team (as no one else volunteered). The referee on one of these games approached me after the game complimenting me on my performance as an assistant referee and gave me details of the up and coming referee course to consider. A few weeks later I sent in my application, attended a course and the rest is history!!!
What has been the highlight of your career so far?
I have a number of highlights, these include being appointed to the 2002 FA Cup Final as Assistant Referee played at the Millennium Stadium, Cardiff - a fantastic achievement and a memorable experience.
In 2003, I was proud to be awarded the FIFA badge as an Assistant Referee. To be able to represent your country is every sports persons dream and this achievement and subsequent overseas appointments will stay in my memory forever.
And finally, being appointed to the Select Group of Referees has to be the ultimate highlight. To be able to walk out as a referee on the Premier League is every referees ambition and now for me after 20 years of hard work, effort and dedication, it has become a reality.
What is the best game you have officiated and why?
The FA Cup Final was a special moment, this needs no more comment as we all know what this fixture means to followers of football, throughout the world.
My other special memories of a game was my appointment to a Full International Match (Greece v Bulgaria), played in Athens, just before the Euro 2004. A fantastic experience, the referee was Graham Poll and I learnt so much from him on this trip. A few tight calls on offside all proved correct on television, I came away from this game with many happy memories and very proud of a job well done.
As a referee, two years ago I made my Premier League debut, Blackburn Rovers v Sunderland. Leading out the teams for the first time and taking charge of such a high profile football match was a fantastic experience and a tremendous learning curve.
What are your aims as a Select Group Referee?
At the age of 38, my aims are to continue in my position as a Select Group Referee for the next 10 years or so, following in the steps of the experienced Alan Wiley, Chris Foy, Phil Dowd etc; My ultimate aim is to become an experienced referee who can be trusted to take charge of the 'big' games and carry out my job in a calm, professional manner. Cup Finals are a distant dream, but with enhanced experience and continued hard work both on and off the field of play, hopefully these dreams will become a reality.
What skills do you think you need to become a professional referee?
The skills that we acquire as referees from the outset are still required at the top level for our game. The issues of applying law, recognition of foul challenges, etc; are basics that at this level come as second nature.
The difference is that as a 'professional' referees all of these skills are enhanced ten fold. Obviously we are under scrutiny by television and we aim to get everything right, but where this does not happen we must be big and bold enough to take it on the chin and move on.
A few keys words spring to mind, AWARENESS and MAN-MANAGEMENT, these two areas are vital for match control. To ensure that we achieve this, it is imperative that we stay calm and portray confident body language.
FITNESS, is key!!!! The game at the top level is fast and at time furious and we must be at the peak of our fitness at all times to ensure correct decision making. Our Sports Scientist ensures that we follow a stringent fitness regime to enable us to be in top physical condition.
ENJOYMENT, if we do not enjoy what we do, then why do we do it? I firmly believe that a smile on occasions helps to diffuse situations and helps to encourage positive interaction from referee to player/coaching staff etc;
Who has been the biggest influence in your career and why?
A number of key people spring to mind, John Rogers a member of Bournemouth RA trained me as a referee and nurtured me through my first batch of games. No doubt without this vital assistance at the time of starting out as a referee, I would not be where I am today.
Gary Willard was my coach during the first year of my apprenticeship as a Football League Referee. His dedication, attitude and 'words of wisdom' helped me to adapt very quickly to life at this level and I still now contact him to ask advise and to chew over refereeing matters where learning points develop.
Ron Groves and Steve Dunn have in the last two years been tremendous in coaching me to be able to make the step up to the Select Group of Referees. Many hours of debate, discussions, soul searching and at times a few stern words have been required to ensure that I was ready to make the huge step to becoming one of the countries top referees.
And finally, a few other names to mention, all of whom have assisted me in the development of my refereeing career, Paul Durkin, Peter Foakes and Keren Barratt. My personal thanks goes to all of these individuals (and anyone else I have missed out!!) for there advise and help during my refereeing career.
In your opinion who is/was the best referee?
Hmm, this is a really difficult question to answer, as there have been a large number of excellent referees over the years. In this country, Paul Durkin has to be one of the best performers and man-managers of players/officials; he commanded the field of play and gained the respect of everyone involved in our great game. Of course I have a bit of bias in this, as Paul is of the same stature as me and therefore I see some of him in me.
