Assistant Referee Simon Long
Location: Suffolk
How did you get introduced into refereeing?
I spent my first couple of years at High School sitting on the bench and hardly got a game. They always needed someone to run the line and having done it a couple of times, I found I enjoyed it. My dad knew Terry Thacker (now Essex RDO) from when Terry used to referee his games. He gave Terry a call only to find that I wasn’t allowed to take the course until I was 14. After a year of waiting impatiently, I passed the course in November 1996 and have never looked back.
What has been the highlight of your career so far?
My appointment as Assistant Referee for West Ham United’s FA Cup 3rd Round game against Barnsley in January 2009. It was my first visit to a Premier League ground to officiate in a competitive fixture and the whole day was a fantastic experience.
What is the best game you have officiated and why?
Histon against Leeds United, FA Cup Second Round in December 2008 where I was Assistant Referee. A full house at the Glassworld Stadium and millions watching live on ITV1 saw Histon beat Leeds 1-0. To be part of a famous giant-killing was a memorable experience.
What are your aims as a Select Group Assistant Referee?
To perform to the best of my ability in every game and to continually improve my performance. It might be a cliché, but I just take one game at a time and try to make the most of it, as you never know what’s around the corner.
What skills do you think you need to become an Assistant Referee?
Commitment, dedication, bouncebackability and belief in your own ability. The margin of the decisions we make are becoming tighter and tighter, and the level of scrutiny we are under greater and greater.
Who has been the biggest influence in your career and why?
Mick Thorpe, a National List Referee from Suffolk. A genuinely nice guy and very understated. He gets the job done quietly with the minimum of fuss and had a big influence on my career, taking time to watch me as I came up through the levels, has picked me up when things have gone wrong and wasn’t frightened to tell me a few home-truths when needed. A good friend and top guy; I certainly wouldn’t be where I am today without him.
In your opinion who is/was the best Assistant Referee?
Darren Cann, a FIFA and Select Group Assistant Referee from Norfolk. Darren’s dedication, perseverance and professionalism off the field combined with his continually high standards of performance and ability to get the big decisions right on the field of play, makes him an ideal role model for any match official with aspirations to reach the highest levels of the game.
