Assistant Referee Billy Smallwood
Location: Cheshire
How did you get introduced into refereeing?
I started to referee when my local Referees’ secretary asked me if I would consider refereeing when I decided to give up playing football.
What has been the highlight of your career so far?
My biggest highlight so far is being selected to run the line in the First Division Play-Off Final at Wembley in 2008.
What is the best game you have officiated and why?
My best game so far is again the Play-Off final at Wembley. To walk out at the best arena in the world in front of nearly 80,000 people makes the hair on the back of your neck stand up.
What are your aims as a National List Assistant Referee?
To always maintain a very high standard and to always try to improve to be the best Assistant Referee and always be someone who can be trusted to do his best.
What skills do you think you need to become an Assistant Referee?
You need to be fit with awareness, always concentrating, fully focused and with the ability to remain calm at all times.
Who has been the biggest influence in your career and why?
The biggest influence on my career has to be the PGMOL; they have given me the confidence, skills, support and most of all passion, drive and back-up when I have needed them.
In your opinion who is/was the best Assistant Referee?
Without doubt the best Assistant Referee has to be Glenn Turner, what more can I say?
