Assistant Referee Darren Bond
Location: Lancashire
How did you get introduced into refereeing?
I used to go and watch my brother play junior football and saw a young Referee officiating. As I had stopped playing I thought I might give it a go and made enquiries to the county FA. Within months my refereeing career commenced.
What has been the highlight of your career so far?
Promotion to the National List of Assistant Referees and promotion to the Panel List of Referees.
What is the best game you have officiated and why?
Derby County v Coventry City - this was a Select appointment working with Premier League Officials Mike Jones and Ron Ganfield.
What are your aims as a National List Assistant Referee?
To be a consistent high performer in every fixture helping me to finish high on the merit table looking for promotion to the Select Group.
What skills do you think you need to become a assistant referee?
Fitness, the ability to concentrate for the full 90 minutes and knowing when and when not to get involved in the game.
Who has been the biggest influence in your career and why?
Outside of football, my mum - I wouldn't be at the level I am now without her fetching and carrying me around to all my games in the early days. And for being there for me when I had 'one of those games'. Within football there have been a number of people assisting my development, namely the two coaches George Cain and Eddie Wolstenholme and also two great friends Paul Tierney and Peter Gooch.
In your opinion who is/was the best assistant referee?
Paul Tierney - I have known Paul for many years and watched him in a number of games. He has the technical and physical skills to continually perform at Premier League level and go further in the future.
