SG Asst Referee Shaun Procter-Green
Shaun was promoted to the Select Group of Assistant Referees in 2000 and was appointed as an Assistant Referee to the 2006 FA Community Shield and has represented his country in a UEFA CL game
How you get introduced into refereeing?
Back in 1987 I remember seeing a feature on Bob Wilson’s Football Focus about the FA trying to recruit more referees into the game. As a result, I contacted the local FA in Sheffield where I was studying at University and ended up taking the course.
What has been the highlight of your career so far?
As a referee I have been lucky enough to referee County Cup finals for both Sheffield and Hallamshire and Lincolnshire (where I now live). I have also refereed the semi-final of the FA Vase and in the first round proper of the FA Cup, the world’s best cup competition.
As an Assistant Referee, I have twice lined League Cup semi-finals and also an international friendly between Wales and Brazil. The highlight though was to line on the Community Shield in August 2006 at the Millennium Stadium in Cardiff.
What has been the best game you have officiated in and why?
In September 2006, I was lucky enough to be appointed to line on a Champions League game at Real Madrid. This was the 5th of 6 overseas appointments I have been fortunate enough to have been on (so far?). The whole idea of representing your country as well as the packed stadium and the great game that ensued makes this, for me, the best game I have officiated in. We were treated so well whilst we were there too.
What are your aims as a Select Group Assistant Referee?
To be a low-profile, efficient and accurate member of a successful officiating team each time we cross the white line and take charge of a match.
What skills do you need to be a Select Group Assistant Referee?
Being an accurate decision maker is a pre-requisite for all National Group officials. Managing the occasion is very important, you are not only making decisions, you are part of the whole business and as such need to be strong and resilient to the extra pressures that brings. Your words, demeanour and actions are important on and off the field - working with full time referees whose careers can be affected by your decisions requires that you understand the pressures your colleagues are under and behaving appropriately.
Who has been the biggest influence in your career and why?
Undoubtedly back in the 1990s when I was in my formative years both refereeing and assistant refereeing wise I was given invaluable help by many colleagues in the Rotherham Association where I first made progress up the football ladder. Friends and colleagues such as Ron Skidmore and the might Carratts of Maltby gave immeasurable assistance to my officiating career. More recently I try to pick up the best advice from the many talented people I am lucky enough to officiate with and in Paul Rejer we have a tremendous manager who really cares about the success and wellbeing of the people he is in charge of.
In your opinion who is/was the best Assistant Referee?
The scrutiny we are now under means that it is not really possible to compare our current best with anyone we have had from before about 5 years ago however we have a proud history of our men going to World Cups and even finals with greats such as Roy Pearson, our own Paul Rejer and Phil Sharp who must be one of the best we have ever had. Outside of those gents I would choose Dave Babski as the best judge of offside I have ever seen – and he supports a very good football team himself!
