Who’s That B*stard InThe Black...

The fifth episode of Upfront and Unfiltered is here!

 

This week I’m joined by a man whose had more clubs than Tiger Woods, but who has now picked up the whistle to become one of the islands top referees, 𝗥𝗢𝗕 𝗦𝗟𝗜𝗡𝗚𝗘𝗥.

 

We discuss his dramatic shift from being a player to a referee, his struggles with mental health and how he prevailed thanks to people in the local game, he even calls out an armchair match official!

 

We also reveal Slinger’s ultimate 7-a-side Manx football team in '𝗦𝗲𝗹𝗲𝗰𝘁 𝟳.' 🟥🟨

 

Please subscribe and follow us on whatever platform you use if you enjoy it, 𝗟𝗲𝘁 𝘂𝘀 𝗸𝗻𝗼𝘄 𝘄𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗬𝗢𝗨 𝘁𝗵𝗶𝗻𝗸! 𝗟𝗜𝗦𝗧𝗘𝗡 𝗡𝗢𝗪 👇🎧

Episode Transcript

(00:05):
Hello and welcome to the latest episode of the Upfront and Unfiltered podcast.
I apologise for the little break, life's been a bit busy, so happy new year to everyone.
I'm your host Dean Turton and this week I've got a former goalkeeper from Laxey,
Oncon, Pulley and St George's.
He's now traded his gloves in for a whistle and climbing the ranks to become
one of the island's top referees on the island.

(00:27):
So please welcome Rob Slinger so Rob your journey from in between the sticks
to officiating it's good to have you on how are you mate?
I'm good looking forward to this obviously and I'm just busy with work and obviously
irritating people on a Saturday well that's that's what you get paid to do that

(00:48):
though don't you know you don't have to you don't have to go for free anymore
mate you'll be millions with £35 now this season I know I know new house soon will it?
It will be carved a lot that's it mate that's it so Rob we'll start off like
I do with everyone mate what got you into football in the first place?
Literally when I was about five or six years old my dad used to take us down
the park playing football and my dad was into football when he was younger it

(01:14):
followed on from there being in local,
youth set up similar to like Oncord we used to go down local Astro to play and
my dad used to follow us down there.
And it was really that, up until about the age of eight, nine,
that I got asked to go along to Crow Alexander Academy,
where going through, I decided that I wanted to be a goalkeeper because my dad

(01:36):
was a goalkeeper, played at amateur, semi-pro level.
So I thought I'd follow after my dad because my dad was a massive inspiration through my life.
Through Crew Academy, I was able to play with quite a few professional players
that have played now and have since retired.
And I go up to the age of, I think, about 12, where you go to high school and

(02:02):
you adventure to your local teams and play in the Sunday League and obviously
carrying on with Crew Academy with labs from my school. It was good, enjoyable.
I obviously got told at the age of 14 that I was never going to make it as a
goalkeeper as my height.
At that level? yeah because my height obviously as

(02:22):
half the island i know that are
interested in football that i'm not of the
i'm vertically challenged i'm the tallest in my
family but i'm vertically challenged so i
carried on with them they were able to let me stay on
and be around because just in case there was a progression
a growth spurt or anything like that and

(02:43):
i never got got offered the contract so i decided i
didn't want to hang around i wasn't the same nobody i'm
now when i was younger i brought up in a catholic family and it was all prim
and proper everyone was nice dad was working for the police mom was a nurse
we were well i'd swear at home please and thank you after everything it was
everything like my family a polar

(03:04):
opposite to me so 16 it was to to leave school, what do you want to do?
And it was a case of, ah, fuck it, I'm going to the army.
So I joined the army at the age of 16.
On my CV was obviously crew Alex. So I ended up joining the Cheshire Regiment,
who were currently the league champions of the army. I played in the League and Cup for them.

(03:25):
Played for AFC Harrogate Foundation College, which was the army foundation college.
I played football for them. In goal, I played for my regiment,
which my regiment, we played against a lot of big teams, which at 18,
the day after my 18th birthday, I flew out to Iraq.
And a part of our R&R out there was to play against the Iraq international team in Qatar.

(03:50):
So I was able to play against Iraq, play against like San Marino.
But being in the army, it wasn't really the height that became my advantage.
My attitude became my advantage because it was just being that little bit unhinged.
You're able to develop into the monk as it was.

(04:11):
And the army did me well. Well, unfortunately, when I was in Iraq,
I'd had to be involved in situations where the use, being in the infantry,
the use of my weapon was used quite a lot.
I lost two of my good friends right in front of me where I've had to try and
save their lives. I got severe PTSD and I was also hit in two IEDs,

(04:36):
which then forced a medical discharge.
Sciatic nerve was supposedly damaged. There was a load of injuries I got.
And also with the PTSD was a massive effect that I suffer still to this day
with that's my moves up and down.
You don't know, it's combat syndrome as they call it, where you're one minute
you're fine, next minute you're not. It's up and down, erratic.

(04:59):
I literally, after that, came here for the Isle of Man. My brother was living
here. I came here for a two-week holiday.
And I was running one night along the prong. I came up some hill.
And I noticed a lad cutting the pitch, an old boy. Yeah. A tank it was.
Oh, yeah, yeah. And I said, oh, what are we playing today? He said,

(05:19):
oh, old boys. I said, no, just like the army.
I'm trying to sort myself out and get sorted and everything.
He said, oh, come down and play footy.
I've laughed at him. here and I was introduced to Mike's
football through old boys well it's not
an introduction everyone needs it was the main introduction for
them wasn't on the footy pitch they'd just been relegated to
division two which I didn't know understand the leagues over here the systems

(05:42):
or anything but I'd say some of them lads knew how to throw a pie oh yeah I
think it's honest like we all know they're not you know they might not be gifted
on a football and pitch at the moment but I think the boys are still out out
there and still having a good time every weekend.
It was better because they were all party animals, but they performed on a Saturday

(06:04):
and they were destroying teams in that second division.
But it was the fact that they all had the same haircut.
It was all long hair. There was Robbie Ward, Drew Ward, Hoodgie,
Leigh Ford, Tommy Miller, all just long hair.
And I was like, I've just come out of a society as such, short back and sides,
regimental. and I've come out of these guys in long hair.

(06:28):
And it was like playing football with rockers. Yeah. So it was great.
No, no. And that's it. And that was your introduction into Manx football.
So you've come out of the army, you know, you've had your struggles in the army,
you know, you've been quite open to discuss that with us.
You've turned up, you've come into Manx football. What then drives you through Manx football?

(06:50):
What gets you through your playing days of Manx football? but my
playing days and football for me obviously a
lot of people know me for being angry and all shit
like that and then the people
that actually know me know that football has
been a way of combating my PTSD it was a release a stress free it's 90 minutes

(07:13):
of I don't care what goes to me what goes on the pitch it stays on the pitch
we go in there we're not there to I'm never there to I'm there to get three
points. I go to work to make money, not friends.
It's three points. It's a battlefield for me. It's one of them.
You go in there, you lose your shit.
You have a pint after the game with a large win, lose or draw.

(07:34):
And you go home. It's always nice to go home with three points.
And that was my main drive, was literally winning and playing football and doing
as well as I possibly could.
And obviously with my height.
Well, you know this, Rob. I have had questions here.

(07:55):
Josh Welsh, Dave Cherry. I don't know why Dave Cherry's asking about height
because Cherry, I've played football with Cherry for years, right, growing up.
And he's, I don't know, he must be six foot two, six foot three.
He's the only man that can get logged on his line at that height,
isn't he? Do you know what I mean?
So I don't know why he's questioning your height there when he's that tall and
he gets logged all the time.
It stems from when I was at the oldies and me and Chris Bass have always had

(08:19):
this little battle about height.
And Chris Bass knows that I'm about three foot tall and he started,
we've had the Auburn joke,
Terry's been a part of that, the Longman joke and he's been,
I said he was down with FC Alleman, I have a good crap with Terry.
Yeah, yeah. At FC Alleman, he's a really nice guy.
You said about Josh Welsh, Josh Welsh, bring it up, the man hasn't even got a kneecap.

(08:43):
He's playing football for about 20 minutes a year.
Gets injured. Yeah. spends the rest of it on the sideline with a couple of cans
on his Saturday he's always there with the piss off he's always a good crap
for that but that's that's the thing as well but.
Josh's bad legs obviously revolve because I actually work with Josh yeah well,
I say work he turns up he's yeah he's there he doesn't do a lot he says he's

(09:08):
a painter I haven't really seen him paint much but you know what they say don't
you if you can piss you can paint well,
that's very true very true but we won't get into Josh we won't sort of you know
his boss will probably hear this at some point so we better not get into that
so you come to Old Boys you start off at Old Boys where did you go from there?

(09:29):
I was there for a season and obviously working over here on a work permit it
was tough getting work I started on the roof as an apprentice money wasn't the best,
so I started working up the manor and pulling pints every night so I was working
the day pulling pints every night.
And then I ended up, with being in the manor, latched on to Douglas Royals.

(09:52):
So the lads had come down there. Fitzy was the manager at the time.
And I ended up at Royals. I played out pitch for the combi.
And there were a great bunch of lads. It wasn't, I wasn't, I didn't really know the lads of Old Boys.
It was a case of went there for a season, latched on at nights out and things like that.

(10:12):
And then went to Douglas Royals. And it was like the same.
You felt like you were part of like a brotherhood squad where everyone was like so close connected,
they'd all be drinking at the manor i'd be i'd go have like
a pint of them after the game go home get changed back up the bar they
were all still out on the piss yeah you're you've gone out you've

(10:34):
had a fight with them but now you're serving them their fight yeah and they
were just like oh you need to get that i said a card you know money's like
being over here and it was because i was obviously through um
struggling with the pension sorting out the element taxes
and everything like that and my mum and dad are like on
my case about work and giving me all because
it's like the regimental life back at home yeah i'm not

(10:55):
used to because my attitude is different to theirs and it was going to royals
was like another a different like release it was it was like a different it
was fresh but i was with my um and because when i first came over i met my now ex-wife.
Living around there as well so it was all like a close-knit community

(11:17):
yeah and it was it was great it was like every team
seemed close yeah and a part of each other and it's all around similar ages
and things and it was it was the same with rosa i had the laughs with them and
then again back at the manor on the piss yeah and you know what i'm on it and
the man is a different pub isn't it you know it's it is it's a proper local

(11:37):
isn't it it's not like you're going to jack so So you got them somewhere else.
I definitely think with the manor, the only thing that was, the pool was taken
so serious. It was like the elite sport.
You couldn't talk to the pool guys. You couldn't even use a table when they
went near it. Yeah. Or anything like that. In that little pool room in the back.
I think the walls, I think like I grew up in Williston, so I know what the manor's like.

(11:58):
I'd obviously been in there quite a bit, but I think the painting on the wall
in there, because you had the, didn't they have the big man's cat for a while?
Like things like that. Yeah. It's just, it's one of them pool rooms.
An apocalypse oh yeah like a Winchester
oh yeah get there get there have a pint and
watch it all blow over it'd be absolutely fine mate so after
that what happens after Royals where do you go after Royals well obviously with

(12:22):
more clubs than Tiger Woods I was introduced I was asked to go down to the gyms
with a lad that left Royals and I said I'll come down pre-season training and
I got the nice introduction to some of the top lads that I know through Mike's
football the Rees brothers.
And I played I played for the Combi and there was a group of us,
there was Denty, Ben Bins, Bart Meese, Joe Meese at the Combi.

(12:46):
I was playing out on pitch and it was just, for the first time in my playing
football, my career as they call it, I played football for a laugh.
Yeah. And I enjoyed it. We were, we'd play, obviously, I couldn't go out on
the pitch because I had my daughter then, my daughter was born, so it was hopeful.
But we got nights out with the lads. and felt part of a team,

(13:09):
like part of a group of lads that were like my mates from the army,
which was brilliant to have everywhere.
Are you coming out tonight? There was always messages flying.
And it was a great crowd. And even when we played on a Saturday,
it was little competitions. Who would score the most?
Mark would be pinging them for 30 yards. Joe would be hung over for the night
for arguing with everybody.

(13:30):
That's not Joe Reese. Joe Reese does not argue. He's quiet, he's tame.
He doesn't argue with anyone. It was the beginning of Joe Reese.
Of I will get my brothers on you.
I remember having a big argument with him because he was, I don't know if he
was hanging, but we were losing, I think, and we needed the win.
And Joe was eating a Mars bar up front as I'm about to take a long throw in.

(13:51):
And we ended up having a massive argument over it.
But it was like a couple of seasons.
Well, playing our pitch for the Combine and then I had one game in goal in the
Junior Cup and gyms were brought into the league at the time.
And I played in goal for the Conby Junior Cup and the next minute I was propelled
into the first team we went on a big run we stayed up.

(14:13):
And then the next season we ended up going, we were heading towards like the
Railway Cup. Yeah. It was like, when you think about it, gyms have turned all around.
Yeah. And it was a great experience. And then obviously then after gyms,
the Rees brothers left and they said to me, they said, oh, do you fancy coming
down there to Pulley? Yeah.
And then that was it. Pulley was like the team. I love Pulley.

(14:36):
And that's when I first played for Pulley. Yeah, yeah.
And then obviously I found out that I had issues with my leg from injury
from the army so i had to have surgery on it and had
all ankle reconstruction because of it and because
of degradating degrading muscle ligaments and bone yeah so i had to have it
all removed and it was it was a long i think year or so off two years a long

(15:04):
way from ranks football isn't especially when you're used to it every weekend
and then i think after and and then you yeah,
you can go down and watch the lads and you can see them on a Saturday, but,
you're not playing, are you? You're not training with them. You're not seeing them.
And that's why that, I know recently, like, Lise and Anken, Dan Simpson have
broken their legs and I'm like, literally messaging them straight away because

(15:27):
I know what it's like to be out of that zone.
You're not in it. It doesn't matter what you say. You don't get into it. You don't feel the game.
So you're sat on the sidelines out of it. Even when you're in the pub with them,
you're sat on the sidelines Dan will feel that with that FC Alleman.
Jim and Lisa's son will feel that with Onken even though he's young enough to
get back and get fit you still feel it it's a long time out with a break injury

(15:49):
six weeks eight weeks yeah yeah it's awful and it's six eight weeks when you're
sat there with a cast on but then it's another six to eight weeks when you get out of that
you're not playing are you because you don't want to push it no and then you've
got it's until you get hit the first time yeah and then you go oh I'm alright
now I can take this, I can go forward,
but it's that initial getting back into it feeling, can I do it again?

(16:12):
Because it's still psychological, it's in your head.
Yeah, so then when that happened, do you stay at Pulley then?
Is that when you have that golden season?
I went through a bad divorce and I had a relapse with my PTSD and I was literally,
I was in a bad place at the time and...
It was like people had turned away from me and everything. And do you know what?

(16:36):
I had my own company at the time, and Chris Bass Sr. and Chris Bass Jr.
Were literally there for me for everything. Like, literally,
through the whole lot, helped me, sorted me out, got me back.
And that's why I ended up with Geordie's, because they were saying,
listen, you play footy, come back. You know, get your fit again.

(16:57):
And it was nice to be helped. You never forget the people that help you,
were your lowest point and for me that was my
lowest point i was through a battle for my daughter me and
my ex-wife had separated it was like it was it was a dark it was
it was a bad time and chris bass senior was the
became like sort of island man like not like it was like a father figure really

(17:19):
like he wanted me to grow my company he still mentions now he hopes i do well
in everything and he became like what everyone says about him he bassy isn't
it's like when people People say, oh, he's not.
I said, you see him when I see him. You see what he's done for people.
People don't remember the things like that you've done. They always remember
what a dickhead you were.
They'll never turn around and go, oh, well, he did this for me. He did that.

(17:42):
And Bassey always did. I'll always thank the senior and junior for when I was
down. They brought me back to football. They got me fit.
I ended up getting down to Geordie's. And even then, it was a good crack.
It was seeing the dedication of some players. is like, Frank Jones, he's a fucking machine.
Yeah. He just, like, even then, that was like 2015.

(18:06):
The guy's just...
Go old, will you? Do you know? He's dedicated to what he does,
isn't he, Frank? Yeah, and it's great to see, like, Jack McVay, Jack McVay, right?
Jack McVay could sleep for another 20 years, put on the 40 stone and could still pick a pass.
Johnny Myers is the same. It doesn't matter what he did. They're just so gifted football.
I was being a part of that Geordies team and being around some of the most gifted

(18:29):
players that played on this island. It's ridiculous.
Like, Sean Quay, what a good defender you got.
Jack McVay, Frank Jones, Jones, Sam Kane when he was at Fitz,
so that's about three days a year.
Pekka, some player, Callum Morrissey, they were just unreal players.
There's a reason why they won so many trophies.

(18:51):
And they did dominate Manx football. They dominated Manx football for years, that team.
But I think that comes from Bassey Senior's desire of when he was a player and
how much he wanted to win.
It stayed with him. He's never lost that, has he?
No Bassey Bassey Bassey's
seniors he's everything I think the only argument

(19:12):
he'll never win is with his misses he said and I
reckon I reckon he still tries to do that he's he
wants to win everything he's and it's great
because it was never what people say how it was he would be I remember when
I was getting fit again trying to get back in goal like moving on my leg and
he'd end it like let's have a penalty competition yeah you save it and And you

(19:36):
were like that, he would literally just smash every penalty in.
And he would even, if I saved the penalty, it would be just a competition over
one little simple thing.
But it didn't just stay with him.
It went into everybody else. Everyone took it off him. They felt every word he said.

(20:00):
He would go, even if you're having a good game, I remember we were up against,
we were beating Union Mills. I think we were up like four or five nil up.
And he'd come in the changing rooms and he went mental. He even asked Dickon
to take over because he just went mental because of straight passes.
We were getting cocky and things like that.
He didn't want us to win cocky. It was always a case of, if you're going to win.

(20:21):
Win well win well yeah and it was and
it it stayed with everyone and that's why
when i look at the geordie scene when people say oh they were cocky
because they won this one that way they weren't they worked hard they trained
hard if you watch them train they were all dedicated to it no one argued with
them no they did it and that's that's the difference between a good player and

(20:42):
a player thinks he's good because then plays they did it they proved what they
proved what they needed to to prove.
And he worked hard and he listened. Yeah. Rather than saying,
oh, I'm not doing that or that, which players do now, they listened to Bassey.
Whatever Bassey said, they did without an argument.
And he was like, like Alex Ferguson.
He ran the group, but he wasn't as, no, it's weird.

(21:03):
Bassey was never like, you'd never see him be an arsehole with everybody.
He'd sit back and he'd talk and he'd know everything about everybody.
He would always take that time to talk to you. And that's what you want in a manager, isn't it?
He's a manager in your team, but he's a very good man manager as well oh yeah
so after Geordie's what happens there Geordie's I went to.

(21:23):
Dave Rees only took over Anken yeah and I remember Joe Rees was working with
me at the time he went oh he came in he went my brother's just taken over Anken,
and I literally got straight on the phone to and I just went,
Dave Slinger he went yeah what do you want where do I sign I was like,
back with them back with the lads and to do it down with them And I'll be honest,

(21:47):
what a club Anken is. They're an unbelievable club.
There's a few clubs like that that I can say it to on the island.
And it's not just a case of being a part of the first team. It's a case of if
you go down on a Saturday, Saturday morning, you watch the dedication that some
of them people do for Bob.
The coaches, the coaches of the girls' team, Tristan Ringham does a great job,

(22:09):
Brian Callow, I can't name all coaches, unfortunately. unfortunately,
but the club for bumps is absolutely fantastic.
The dedication they do just to get the excitement into the kids,
you know, to play, to get them to turn up, to get their pants to turn up in
the rain, get to turn up in the wind, get to turn up in the snow.
It's brilliant. And clubs like that, it was great to be a part of and try and

(22:32):
achieve something. We didn't win anything.
We got to a cup final. It was brilliant to bring it to.
But it was, do you know, just to be a part of that and feel part of it was brilliant
because I helped coach down with the girls with Tristan and my daughter.
Played, which was great. She wanted to be at the club I was at,
which was another part of going to Onken.

(22:54):
And going down there Saturday with her, Saturday afternoons was my football,
where she'd come down as well and we'd have her games on a Sunday.
It was great just to be a partner. And Onken made a family on it.
And a family feel. And it was, there was great. Honestly, I can't speak highly

(23:14):
enough for the club myself, mate. I was at Onken for a number of years.
Brian Callow put me through my first coaching badges and things like that even
the things he's done for foot is brilliant you can't people on the Isle of Man
will never know what he's done for my football,
but he's great a great guy Brian been a friend of mine for years and honestly
it's one of them so obviously you have your disappointment of the cup you don't

(23:39):
get there you don't win it so you go back to Pauly don't you at the end of that
well Steedo asked me to go,
I left Anken due to the chairman before
it wasn't Brian Callow
it was someone else we had
a disagreement I Steedo asked
me to come down train and I trained with

(24:00):
them and I literally I've been
a pulley before yeah I thought yeah I'll do it
so I came down and it was a good crowd you could see a team in there there was
like a raw team that was this you look at them every seen now the McGinn's I
love the McGinn's they're brilliant they're more nice aren't they amongst football
to a lot of people though outside that don't know the McGins I know the McGins

(24:23):
as well myself maybe you know that.
I look at people a different way people will and I've found here that people
are so easy to judge over things and how they are on the pitch,
James McGinnis we had a back line a great back line with Jacob Thomas Jacob
Thomas is last time I seen someone 50-50 like Jacob Thomas was Brogy and that's

(24:46):
a player yeah that was a player Jacob Thomas was all or nothing he didn't care
even if he had a 1% chance of winning it he got that ball,
Owen Quayle I've never seen a centre-back burst out the back like he does go
on a run with Kenny Cowan on the left James McGinn on the right,
and you knew there was always fire in that back line the police squad had fire

(25:07):
through the whole team obviously troubled but it was always ignited you know
you always see the retaliation you never see the ignition,
yeah and and that was the thing and the mcgins i've got so much respect for
that they remind me of my dad the family is like my dad and his family that
no matter what hail rain snow.
They were always at the games they were always on the sideline and they were

(25:30):
always supporting their kids no matter what through everything which was like
it and i looked at i used to sit back and look at them and go do you know what
you remind me of my family yeah and it's great to to see when you see things
like that, when you, even when you're older,
you see your family coming down and it's,
It was great to be a part of that because you just, again, it was the feeling
of, well, can we go to Pinewood at the end?

(25:51):
And even guys that were in the pub, they're just absolute shit.
They never had a clue what, oh, how'd you get on?
And it's the cracks after the game as well.
Let's be honest, Pulley's produced some of the greatest players on the Isle of Man.
It's where football begins on fields like that. Oh, yeah, you look at some of
the players that have played for Pulley over the years.

(26:13):
Like I'm just you know you've named a few there Stido I think you know silly
silly amounts of goals in Mike's football Johnny Palmer even back in the day
Johnny played Pully you know,
Pully have had some fantastic do you know what they always have a goal scorer
I don't know what it is they always find a goal scorer out of somewhere and
I know they're struggling at the moment I speak to Mo quite a lot like I see

(26:34):
Mo I don't live too far away from Mo I see him quite a lot and Mo's always saying
we're going to get there we're going to win the league he was telling me last Last week,
before he played, he was telling me they were going to win the FA Cup.
I did see him after that, I'm reminded. But, you know, people like that behind
the scenes just keep that close. It's even like with Pully.

(26:56):
Kev Cowan was a massive force behind Pully. Kev was massive, yeah. You know what?
I've listened back to a few videos of when I was playing and saves I made.
And you just listen to his passion on that sideline. and
that drive is people like him
for football and what football need yeah sideline
needs people cheering on not only from a supporter's

(27:19):
point of view but from management and coaching and Kev
was always in and around and always a part of it and
always added something no if
it wasn't a train if it wasn't he was working or he
was always busy always with his kids he'd come down
on a Saturday day and it always gave that little injection of
enthusiasm that make you want to play for the

(27:40):
shirt that may give you that little step extra i was
fortunate enough to have kevin be a
part of the management team with steve and manage me on my first
trip to pull it and it was always something and
that's what i've been looking with with the managers that i've had on the
island and they've all given that drive and all
given that input well it doesn't have to be the aggressive input put

(28:00):
that people think it's just that passion to show even when you've had a shit
day they're picking you up yeah and and kev kev was like honestly we lost kev
last year and anyone who doesn't know kev was a great guy but kev was always
happy he was always positive it like i know kev had his he had his difficulties
towards the end you know he was struggling.

(28:21):
But you could never tell from the outside what Kev was going through.
And I think he was always that kind of person previously as well.
If he had something going on, we would never know.
You'd go to a footy game and he'd always be concerned about you rather than
himself. And he was a great input to the club.
And it was having people like that round, Steve Mark Priest,

(28:41):
who was playing with us, they added that little bit where they'd give it and
it became, we were fighting for every point.
Every point that we won that scene, we were battling for. And there's another
person in there at Vost as well and that Pully side, Steve Glover.
Yeah. Do you know what I mean?
But I said before, Pully always have produced goalscorers. Steve and Steve Glover.

(29:03):
Do you know what I mean? It's silly, isn't it? Ridiculous. It's silly,
but that brings us on to obviously the end of that second season or I think
it was the second season you went back, wasn't it? It was the second time. Yeah.
And this comes in from Heidi. It's a question that leads very well into it and
it says, you captained Pully to the Woods Cup success during that season does that rate,

(29:23):
amongst one of your best and memorable moments as a player in Manc football,
when I was a part of that final it was a great final we went 1-0 down my dad
was a my dad flew in for the final my dad's been to,
all my cup games that I can ever remember even with the army my dad travelled
down from Crewe to Aldershot to watch us lift the cup dad was at everything with his flat cap on,

(29:50):
That cup final ranks with the best thing that I've ever achieved in football
because it was the last final my dad went to.
And I lost my dad last year.
Thinking back to that final, even with the pulley lads, we were all,
after the final, my dad was like, oh, well done, you've won.

(30:11):
And I just, he said, but why didn't you save that first goal?
I was like, oh, for fuck's sake.
Picking all the bad ones. Because I didn't go up for it. I dived outwards. He hadn't to punch.
Instead of, if I'd have came and collected, I might have got it,
but I dived out for some reason and he picked up on that. I was time wasting. He hates that.
And, but it was, I look back to that final now and I can remember every part of it.

(30:36):
It's even when we all went back to the horse and plough after the game and James
McGinn, Owen, all the lads there were, we were all with my dad.
We were all buying drinks for each other. They got me dad.
Absolutely steaming. And my dad decided to walk home from the horse and plough.

(30:57):
And I was living in Oncon at the time. And he thought he knew his way.
So he ended up getting two taxis home with him.
And he goes, I remember my dad the next day, he said, you know what,
son, I'm so proud of you for winning that cup.
And I like the lads, but I'm never going fucking drinking with you again.
Best way, mate. Best way. So after Pulley, was it Laxey after Pulley?

(31:18):
Yeah, it took us. I went to Laxey it was a random turn I'd heard a lot about
John Palmer George Burroughs was working with me at the time,
And Laxey were at the struggle. They were at the bottom of the league.
And I was obviously coming to the end. I knew the next minute was going to be it.
Yeah, because you just, like you're saying, you know the time when the time's right.

(31:38):
And I got the opportunity. I spoke to Johnny Palmer and I knew I could,
I'd always like to go to a club where I could actually make a difference.
If I could win him 10, 15 points a season, Mike's footy keeps you out of relegation.
Well, that's it, isn't it? You know, I think it's about 15 points normally keeps
you up in the Premier League.
So I thought to myself, I could easily win five games a season.

(32:00):
I think, let's help out. Yeah.
A couple of mates and things like that. And I spoke to Johnny Palmer on the
phone. He said, yeah, you're more than welcome. I said, listen,
I'm willing to come down. I'm willing to help you out.
He went, yeah, you're more than willing to come to training.
And he was just dead blood. Oh, yeah.
He's got no... There was no, like... No filter with Johnny. No, no, there isn't.

(32:21):
And do you know what? That's what I love about him. That is like.
He's again a Marmite you ever hear him laugh I love John Palmer do you know
what he's just how it is he will come and shake your hand and he will never,
show a grimace to you if he's got something to say he'll say it to you,
he's not one of them who'll say it behind the back he'll rip the piss out of you all there,

(32:41):
and I went down to training and I trained a few times and I said so who wants
to score for the season he went you train like a wrestler he said I want you
as fit as my outfield players I was like shit yeah gotta do a bit of running yeah,
and he goes and don't expect coming down here you're going straight to the first
team he said we've got a goalkeeper,

(33:01):
Mason Prince was there at the time and he says so don't think just because you've
come down you've won a couple of trophies that you're going to get straight
in he said you're fighting you work as hard as him you train as hard as him and,
at the end of the day you're coming in to the comedy place yeah and I was like
oh shit like it's a little wake up call isn't it it's good to have a little

(33:22):
challenge And then we went for our first run.
Little did I know that Mason Prince was like a marathon runner who came in about
20 minutes before everybody else. I was like, well, this is going to be fun.
I'm in my 30s and he's not.
Up and down the hills, round Glen Road. Oh, God, yeah.
It was just like the fucking first two hills, the waxing. You're just like,

(33:44):
Jesus Christ, why am I doing this? Am I going to play table tennis?
Well, obviously, Cherry, I wouldn't be able to reach the table, would I?
Yeah, that's it. but it was great it was good I know a lot of people behind
the scenes that Laxey didn't want me because of my attitude and all things like
that but Johnny Palmer was the one that turned around to him and said listen give him a chance,

(34:06):
let's see what we can yeah let's see what he can do and you know what for my last I wouldn't have,
loved to have been anywhere else because Laxey as well are an absolute great
club they're a brilliant club and there's reasons they've won the trophies they've
won the old guy I'll tell you something the Monday club At Laxey.
They do everything, don't they? There's nobody like them.

(34:29):
Them guys are dedicated to that club. They sort the pitch out every week.
They're like the unsung heroes. Do all the painting around the clubhouse.
They'll touch a bit up here. Watch kids and everything.
Unsung heroes. And again, down to the coaches and everything.
Everyone with their little bits to do. Mike knows with the FA,
they're all just pure football.

(34:52):
They are pure football. and that's what I love about clubs like that,
that there's pure football and you've got people behind the scenes that are so dedicated.
There's an old woman, a young woman, should I say, that goes down to watch Laxey.
She has her knit scarves all the time.
Margaret Griffiths. Yeah. And do you know what? For the years that I was at Laxey,

(35:12):
watching her on, well, not all the time, obviously when we're winning,
when I've just made a howler, but watching the passion that she has has to come
down to sit on the sideline in the raid to cheer on Maxi.
It's a village club, isn't it? It's the village atmosphere. It's just seeing
the older people down there. You go down there, there's a complete different

(35:33):
generation watching the football, cheering them on, supporting the club from
ground up, which is unreal.
I think that's fair enough, isn't it? So at the end of that,
Rob, that's obviously Laxey's way of playing, day's end. Yeah.
What the hell gets you into refereeing from your record of playing footy?

(35:54):
I went to Qualtroughs to pick up some materials and Joe Reese was there and
they'd been in some of the weekend and he was criticising referees and,
Meppam was in there and I said to him I said listen I said do you know what
I'll do it yeah I actually passed my referees course in 2001 with True Alex

(36:17):
and I did my second one in the army and,
Meppam said alright if you're willing to do it
send me your email address and I think Meppen walked away from that going he's
full of shit again there was definitely a whole he's full of shit and then I
would have loved to have sat in the room with Tony Meppen Tommy Crow,

(36:40):
Kev Maitland when he spoke to everyone,
and said Rob Slinger's thinking about coming to I would have loved to have been in there because.
Tommy Crow messaged me and he went like, is this a pay state?
You know what I mean? I was like, no, no, I won't do it. He said, all right then.
Meet me down in Pulley. We watched a Douglason District game and he went,

(37:03):
sound, you're a referee next week.
And I was like, is that it? He went, you know the game. Let's see how you go.
Put your money where your mouth is. Technically, because obviously.
Let's get the golf shite reffing.
Let's see, because he's given, obviously given refs abuse over the years.
Let's see if he can actually do it.
And I've had clashes with Mark Stevens before four and he
assessed me on like the first game and i thought oh

(37:24):
this is gonna go bad yeah and mark stevens
when i am completely shocked how
you handled the game i'm gonna tell kev that you want need to continue and i
literally fell back in love with football yeah which is weird but it's like
a buzz it's like you're feeling it you're watching players have that drive for

(37:48):
football you're You're watching it on the other side.
They can call you what you want. It's not really, they can't really insult you
because they're not in the real generation where they give you proper, it's just like.
Seeing some fellow on Sky do it so they thought they could do it to you.
They try and copy your play, but it's great to get the games going,
be a part, you're still a part of it. Yeah.
And you can still have that laugh. I'll still go for a pint at the homeroom,

(38:09):
home ground at the end of the game.
And if they've got someone to say, say, all right, I've fucked up all,
but it's great to still be a part of it and it's great to still see some of
the lads that I played with I know the new lads are coming through just like
who the fuck is he but it's great.
It's good to still have that in thought and still take... And that's what I

(38:31):
was going to say, like, oh, you're enjoying it, but you've answered that there, mate.
You know, you clearly enjoy going out there every week and doing it and being a part of the game.
And I think that leads me on to a nice question from someone that you've mentioned there, Tommy Crow.
And Tommy Crow just asks, would you like to have taken the whistle up earlier than you did?
And, like, obviously you've done that in 2001, you've done your course.

(38:53):
I think he means more over here.
Yeah, definitely. I would have I think my time I had a good couple of seasons
the teams I played for I've had my good games I've had my bad games yep.
Looking now yes because I'd be,
I reckon I'd be a hell of a lot further yep I'm going for level 4 this season,

(39:15):
I've refereed across a few times to get a taste of it I'm driving towards it
next season I'm going to try and get across more yep and go from there because
you had some 37 but what's the worst This can happen.
I knock back, I knock back, I come back, and I still do the same job that I'm doing now.
It's not the end of the world. I'm never, ever going to be in the Premier League. But let's go.

(39:36):
You want to be the best you can be. Yeah.
I would have loved to have done it earlier because I think personally I've done well.
You got the grassroots ref of the year last year, didn't you,
at the FA? Which is a shock.
It's better to get that than discipline. discipline well yeah
that's very true i don't know i know when we caught up after that your missus

(39:58):
was even shocked at that as well wasn't she so you know she she thought she
was turning up to make sure that you weren't getting arrested or something but
yeah we turned up and we had a good time down there so rob that's your footballing
days okay we're all done with that now okay so,
i'm gonna ask you a question now and i know as a referee there's going to be
people out there that go you can't say this you can't say that where i'm from

(40:21):
where i'm filtered i don't give a shit at what you say, yeah.
And you've got, you're entitled to an opinion. Everyone's entitled to an opinion.
What at the moment for you is the worst thing about Mike's football?
The numbers. The lack of numbers. Yeah. The, there seems to be like a generation stop.
When I first came to the Isle of Man and I was playing around with footy teams
when I was younger, there was kids playing footy everywhere.

(40:44):
Yes. The PlayStation generation.
It's the lack of,
the call to access snowflake generation, it's, there's no willing to get out. Look at pulley fields.
There's a prime example. When I was a kid, if you went past a field that had
a set of nets on it, there was kids in it.

(41:04):
There was kids playing on one side, there was kids playing on the other side.
Different kids, they'd end up having a big game, like heads and volleys.
Most kids now, they wouldn't even know what heads and volleys was.
I don't think you're allowed to head through a ball to like the age of 12 or
something because of like concussion.
Like, don't get me wrong, wrong before anyone starts going mad
on health and safety when they're listening to this I get it

(41:24):
yes it's all about but it's their
choice if they want to head a football they're good if they
go into adult football they've never had it headed a football before it's going
to bring on some terrible injuries because they're going to be jumping in they're
not going to have the muscle memory they're not going to have the technique they're not going to
know what they're doing that's my personal opinion on it but I
get they're trying to protect and you know there's links to of dementia there's

(41:46):
studies have we done enough study on it yet no I think there needs to be more
but we can get there do you know what I mean but you do remember like the one
thing I will say remember back in the day how heavy a football was oh yeah now
they're getting lighter flimsier,
but the it has changed go past and like I said drive past Pulley and look over
all the lads that used to play for Pulley they'd all be out on a Friday night

(42:08):
or Tuesday night after school they'd be there in their school uniform be home
when the lights come on there was kids on a Sunday would be absolutely pissing
down short t-shirt running around the field yeah.
Now what do you see when you go past the pitch there's clubs
that have their nets out you never see a kid at the pitches you go around the
pitch on the Isle of Man at weekend the nets are empty and it's it's a shame

(42:30):
and to say that football's one of the biggest the money's rising yeah but the
passion isn't yeah and that's and that that probably will flip onto then.
What do you think at the moment in Manx football is the best thing about it.
The best thing about it for me that I enjoy being a part of the game,

(42:53):
what I love is the battle game. I love the second division.
I love the battle games and teams, when they turn up and they're full-scored, they want a play.
Teams are fine for things. They're not sat there, or Jordies are walking away
with it, but teams still fall for the second place, third place,
being a part of the cup final.
Everything and the options are there for the kids' football at grassroots routes

(43:16):
all the way through to senior level I as a person,
that's involved I've been part of counties football I played for teams that
have been a part of counties football before I honestly think one of the best
things not for the clubs because they're losing a lot of players but FC Alleman
for the younger generation,
not the guys that sit behind me and FC Alleman giving me a piece for an outside

(43:38):
but all the ones that clap you for chasing a duck off yeah you know can't can't
can't not let that one come I will never live that down but see the younger
generation when you're walking off the pitch at FCL and I've done it a few times
and you see the excitement on the kids' faces,
they think they're seeing professional footballers, that's the closest they're
going to get because we do have a massive amount of armchair fans they're obviously

(43:59):
Liverpool and Man United fans should I say,
some of us aren't armchair fans Rob you know that.
They get into a local game, they won't go down and watch Laxey they won't go down and watch Georges,
they won't go down and watch 12 boys but they will go and watch SC Alamite it's
costing the parents money but they're so passionate they've got their replica

(44:20):
kits on yeah they're wanting to have autographs of Sean Doyle,
which I can get anytime if they want to get a card like yeah I can.
Dan Simpson's not they're offering something and it's great to
see that they're great to see that level because back home
when I used to go and watch crew play that was the buzz the players used to come
out at the end and sign autographs you don't really see that much with

(44:41):
you won't get that in the Premier League you won't get
anything down to sort of League 2 National League I can
speak for this because obviously National League I went
to two weeks ago I was in London I went
to watch Dorkin vs Oldham in the National League and honestly
mate it's the most it's real it
is like being at the ball but I was actually closer

(45:02):
at the pitch at Dorkin than I can get at the
ball to the sideline and this is National League football
after the game the lads are all there they're drinking in the same bar after
the game and you engage with them and that's a part of the thing and it's a
part of like the FC Alleman you look at them players they've gone technically
if you do look at they have gone
to a star status because some actually do develop down onto a Saturday but,

(45:25):
you see what they're offering they're working hard yeah we'll get you wrong
they are working hard I've got Ryan Garton with me and he's telling me about
it because obviously he doesn't work hard at work so he's he's very good at
being good isn't he Ryan?
You know you know what he's good he's very very good and he is good at being good is...
Not at work though, because I've been working with him this week and I've had

(45:47):
to wake him up about four or five times.
He is a natural lad. Yeah, that doesn't surprise me. He's a garland.
But he's involved and he tells me about how hard the lads are working, the training.
Behind the scenes, the things we don't see that they're doing,
really, you see Gary Wainton's photos, but they are working their socks off.
It's mad, mate. And I'm quite privileged enough to know what's happening down

(46:09):
there and see what's happening.
You know, I'm friends with some of the coaches. as I help out with the media
stuff now and then and behind the scenes that club is growing and I you know
what I don't mean this in a derogatory way I think their way of yes they've
got the fans down there but I think.
In the long run they're hoping that filters back into Manx football and people

(46:31):
that are going out on a Saturday night to watch that might go out an hour earlier
and go down oh there's a game on there I'm just on the way down to the FC I'll
pop in for a now just have a look and see I think that's what What they're wanting
to do to bring Manx football back up to a level as well.
Yes, they're taking players from it, but what they're giving back and the opportunities
that they're providing, is it one of them?

(46:53):
So, no, that's fair enough, mate, and I get that. So, before I move on to the
final section of this podcast, basically, which is our Select Seven,
I'll introduce that in a minute.
There's a couple more questions. One of them's come in from ex-referee John McCallum.
John the jock, for anyone who knows him as that, because it's probably what he's more known as.
And there's two parts to this question okay basically he says and I know he's

(47:18):
an ex-referee as well I just want to point that out now John doesn't referee
anymore but he is an ex-referee,
Are all referees on the island walking football refs?
If not, why do 99% of Manx refs on a Saturday never run around the pitch during a match?
The second part of this is, he was a ref for 14 years.
When he did his level four fitness test every year, he passed it.

(47:42):
A lot of refs failed it, but got put down as a pass.
Do you think this is still happening? Now, this is John's opinion.
I don't know if this is true or not, but what are your thoughts on that, Rob? well
on a saturday i don't go
and watch referees and that's one thing i don't do
i'd stay apart because it's the game of culture you will it's you're the lone

(48:03):
ranger on a saturday when you haven't got linos i know how to do my running
i do my fair share of running players will know that i keep up with playing
i've got my gps that will prove that i keep up with playing the amount i run.
The check one with the fitness test i did my fitness test with
john mccallum i was level seven at the time i did the level four i will

(48:24):
continue to do i know that i'm my level four
is coming up fitness test is coming up over here and i know of one person that
has done a fitness test that i've spoken to because i don't really speak about
the refs and stuff with no refs because it's not it's it's not really you tend
to talk about who you sent off people and yes you want You talk about the games,

(48:46):
you don't talk about the bits before that.
I'm a player and I like, I sort of get on.
Oli, and do you know what? Fair play to him. Hats off. He's now level four.
He's gone to Bolton. Yeah. He's done his fitness test.
He's refereeing across. He's lined on some big games in the Northern Premier League.
He's working his tics off with the reffing, and he's getting great feedback.

(49:11):
His assessments are quality.
And do you know what? It's raised his game to a complete...
And I've been speaking to him a lot for advice and things like that.
And for him he did say that at the time fitness was a struggle the new fitness
test is out which now he's transferred to which it's not easy I'd say it's harder,

(49:34):
but it's more match relevant and.
He's adapted and he's passing that
fitness test he smashed the fitness test I know a couple
of guys who were a part of that and Oli actually smashed the
fitness test and he's now I watch him
refereeing and I can't believe it's the same only years ago and I spoke to him
a few weeks ago and I said the best thing that happened to him was level four

(49:56):
but he's taken it to the next level going across and doing it and doing brilliant
I said the only thing and I'll change it a little bit is that frustrates me with,
other referees getting to level four is every referee works hard in their own
way whether it's Peter Green or Matty Evans I'm only saying them because they're

(50:20):
the older generation of referees, which I massively respect.
And then you have the new referees. Now, every week we work,
we don't go out. They don't go out of their way to ruin a game.
We make mistakes. It's human error.
And a point I'm bringing up, I know it relays away from John,
but I think I answered that. Yes.

(50:41):
Like recently, I was seen on Facebook,
on the laxie page i am a part of
the laxie page i didn't i haven't been on facebook in ages
and a guy had made a comment about referees decision
and that was taken to facebook and this lad who's a new referee wants to progress

(51:01):
to that level now club marks and all there it's not just fitness it's club marks
yeah and assessment marks that get you to that level a guy took it upon himself
to post the video that why this wasn't the yellow card.
He didn't post where the referee's position was. It wasn't anything like that. It wasn't a human error.
He didn't, he just said, why wasn't this yellow card? Bringing it out,

(51:22):
trying to call, because obviously the mid-game circumstances,
his son was tackled, right?
And it was pulled apart. The next day, he writes up a post, a big post about.
I have respect for referees. I'm a referee. I've had abuse. But the day before,
you're taking the referee's decision to social media.

(51:44):
Right? Referees, we know what it's like in the Premier League.
Referees are up for the catch at the moment.
No one talks about Nunez's open goal, missed header. Yeah. That would have most
probably netted the club if it had won the game a lot more money.
And they talk about the referee's decision. Now, this guy is taking it at a
grassroots level. He's a referee and knows what abuse.
He knows people are joining the bandwagon. i've seen that

(52:05):
people have joined the bandwagon i wouldn't say
just fitness is a problem we've got to get
to the next level i need to get certain amount of club marks i need
to get so much support when you've got people that
are part of a club like laxey try to have an influence on your
decisions you're going to hamper the career of a
younger referee and my personal

(52:28):
thing is i would would like to call out jason hill
as a referee and he's a referee and
say you've stated on facebook that
you are a match official i've not seen your name down
yeah on any sheet this
season all that season come and do a season and
see how hard it is to get every decision right on your own because the

(52:51):
referee in question had had a belt in game got great marks
he's one of the top new referees this season
but he's tried to hamper him by a
decision like one decision not
the fact that the young lad that's running through and doesn't get his head up or doesn't
look for anyone around him first or check over his shoulder if someone's coming
you know which little things in funny but takes that opportunity and then tries

(53:16):
to defend what he's said and put by oh the laws this the laws of that yes there
are laws of the game which is most probably more important than fitness,
it's great being in that position but if you don't know the laws of the game.
You've got to be both ways. I could be the fixed referee on the island,
but if I don't know the laws of the game, I'm the worst referee on the island.

(53:37):
So it's an even balance.
But I would like to see Jason Hill come out and offer, because he did put Paul
Hodgkinson's email address and try and get other referees.
But if he's going to put up comments about a referee and then retract and try
and defend whilst getting a bandwagon, could he please come out for a season and referee.

(54:01):
For a full season at senior level and see how difficult it actually is to get,
every single decision right it's me I've done
it and I've done it for a season and a
half and I know how difficult it is and people called
me out because I put when I do a match report I put referee in it
but I put a post out a couple of weeks
ago I know you've seen it I know a lot of people have seen it and a

(54:23):
lot of people actually stood around me and said so you've been there
you've done it you obviously aren't doing it anymore because i am doing
this stuff i'm out every week watching games you know but the
way i score a game is off the charm that
the fa put out yeah and it's how clubs score
should score people yeah so if i give you a rating between 60 and 70 there's
a description of why i've give you that and if i think i'm below if you're towards

(54:48):
the bottom end of that or towards the top end and i think that's fair enough
and And people appreciate that because I'm not giving the referees stick there.
I am just rating them against the system that the FA have provided clubs with to score referees on.
And do you know what? The amount of people from clubs that have said to me,
I didn't know that's how you rate a referee.

(55:10):
That's the thing that doesn't come across. And that's why I brought up about
Jason Hill's comment on Facebook.
And it's on a laxative page, which I was personally disappointed about.
Out yeah and i spoke with people about it i'm happy to say i spoke to the fba
about it because i didn't think it was fair that a new referee i'm not bothered
about myself i can take whatever,
but you're trying to encourage people to stay in the game because obviously

(55:33):
people tell him about my career and what a dickhead i was yeah and i was and
i'm openly i don't i'm not going to shy away from how i was as a player but
as a referee i'm not a hypocrite i will come on to the other side,
I will show, listen, I'm giving back to the game.
I have players saying things to me at weeks and you deal with it.
It's water off a duck's back.

(55:53):
The level of abuse that he talks about, the horrendous abuse he's got.
Come and get it weekly. Come and do it weekly. This young lad has taken up his
time. I don't know the lad personally.
He's taken up his time. Let's come and see it. Let's see what you can offer
since you've said, oh, I'm a referee, but you've called him out and you know,
you don't want abuse. Yeah.
Come out and do it. I'm making an open offer. Someone from Laxey is going to

(56:17):
put it in their group because I know he's in it and say, listen,
since you said that, this referee has come out and said, I want you to do it.
I would like him to do it because personally, I think I don't like referees
being called out because we're short of the...
I think we've made a good little start on getting new people in this year.

(56:37):
We have. And I'll tell you something, what an intake it's been this year.
There's some great lads. I'll be honest personally I follow the Ravies I think
getting them involved Caleb Aaron brilliant lads top lads I've heard good reports absolutely fantastic,
you've got a great example there you've got a great example in
Oli and people might not like

(56:59):
him as a player I don't like any referee never liked
the referee I come off I'm on the other side you listen
to what they go through I go through now I'm watching
the steps that Oli's taking the hard work he dedication he's put
in but we've got a great support network kev maitland absent made kev maitland
most probably two three four five six years ago wouldn't have pissed on me if

(57:22):
i was burnt and that was my opinion he would never talk to me but seeing i've
met kev now i never knew kev but i made an opinion,
tony metman i made an opinion to make an opinion i'm a part of these and i've
got i know for a And in fact, I've got a great support network in the FA.
If I want to speak, I go speak to Kay, Simon, Alston.

(57:43):
I can go speak to anyone in there in any one time.
I've got Kev Maitland, who's always there. If you've had a good game, bad game, he will...
The FA will miss Kev. I think the FA and the refs will miss Kev when he goes in June.
Oh, yeah, 100%. Kev's brilliant. You don't see half the work Kev does behind the scenes.

(58:03):
Obviously, if I'm dealing with the FA or I'm speaking to the FA,
always go through Kate or Kevin and you know we always have
a good chat and it's interesting the work he does and we've got the referee
society now a lot of referees don't join that now the referee society is brilliant
because the decisions I've made in the game they bring up and they'll talk oh
I had this what do you think and maybe I went open my mouth and said shit I

(58:24):
did that but then you know for the next game because it's,
a part of the law you don't read because if you read the laws of the game I've
gone to health and safety oh my god you just go through it's a tragedy I think
I've had books about 200 odd pages isn't it it's mental but listening to other
referees different levels all different but on the same shit every week.

(58:45):
And I've been lucky to have Paul Hodgkinson championship line-up.
What better experience you want than a guy that does it for a living?
Hell, can you? He doesn't ever, I don't think I've ever heard him criticise a decision or anything.
It's always how you can improve. He wants people to improve. He wants to develop.

(59:06):
Younger refs bring it in. He's got the older refs. He gets everyone involved.
It's not just aimed at certain sections. He brings everyone in.
Peter Green all down and Mark Thomas from the society Peter
Green all the time he's taken out of football to
help me out when I went through losing my dad
just to give me pointers and help me out
build my team to look for light absolutely fantastic you

(59:30):
don't realise what being on the other side of the
office No and I have had another question in
and they want to remain anonymous but it goes on about
the referees and it just says it's more about the
appointment to referees and it's like is it the
people that suck up to the people at the top that get
the best appointments no I personally well I know for a fact it's not because

(59:50):
you've got to be done on levels haven't you and what games you get the games
are on as levels and it's what you offer yeah because if if you're having a
rough time and let's be honest it's look we've all had games like that when we played.
It's if I was shit for three games in a row and go Palmer's going to say listen
mate I'm going to have to take that fire and land you shit yep It's how football goes.

(01:00:13):
If you're a referee and you have three bad games, you're going to have to get
taken out of the final line.
You're going to have to be, it's, you know, you can't just turn around and have
three bad games and then go on top game of the season.
They are going to protect. You might have trouble in one game.
You might have a bad mark at one game. You might keep away.
The decision behind games, behind the back, there's more to it than everyone thinks.

(01:00:37):
It's the worst job in the world. Culture marvels because you're never going to please anybody.
But it's nothing to do, it's definitely nothing to do with kissing ass because
I've gone from being on the top game in the first division, then get put to the second division.
I can end up on a comedy. You can end up, you get to levels.
Your levels are going to keep you in that position it's like going for level

(01:00:57):
4 now you have to do so many in the top division in your area so,
I would get a lot more 1st division this year than I got last year because that
level because they're wanting you to get better, people start off in the 2nd
division personally I think people get tracked quick,
I thought people move quick but that's how well they do it has nothing to do

(01:01:20):
with, because Because I think you never see anyone in the office.
I think getting hold of Kev when he's involved with meetings with the FA is non-existent.
But when you do, he's always helpful. But he's busy. He's got a job at the same
time. Doing refereeing, it takes up.
Making the referee appointments takes up most of his life because he has to make sure.
The other thing they have to make sure is that you're not multiple refereeing

(01:01:44):
the same club over and over again.
Then you've got to take into account playing for the club.
Yeah you've got to keep them away for so long and all things
then you've got the cup competitions keeping them free for that and
there's there's a bigger process behind it but
it's it's when they say it's favoritism
and things like that i'm not being funny if you see me as

(01:02:04):
a player there ain't no one of them so right we'll wrap this up rob for anyone
that's not listened before this is our select seven feature so this is your
ultimate seven or five banks 40 team with this obviously i've asked you to pick
three players that no longer play on a saturday three players that are still playing on a saturday,

(01:02:25):
a goalkeeper who can be either playing on a Saturday or not playing anymore,
and a manager. So start off with your goalkeeper.
Goalkeeper, right, I struggled with this one. I got torn between two,
and the first one that came to my head was Dan Wade, because I love Dan Wade.
Dan Wade was, he was a quality goalkeeper, and he was a gentle giant.

(01:02:46):
He was so good in net, great off the pick, great laugh.
And then I got thinking. And one lad that's always stuck out to me,
who I would personally say is the best goal best young
goalkeeper I've ever seen yeah and every season
he played was the best goalkeeper I've seen
I didn't care who was in it if he came back playing

(01:03:06):
now he'd be FC Alleman's number one so I'm
picking Sam Holliday what a keeper he absolute lunatic by the way absolute lunatic
on the pitch if he came back today he'd be Alleman's FC Alleman I know Sam personally
obviously I coached him when I was at Old Boys but what a guy Sam is so that's

(01:03:26):
your goalkeeper okay Sam absolute,
I think he's he's two clubs I think he's ever played for
he's played for Old Boys and he's played for St Mary's
because he had a couple of seasons he had a couple of seasons not two seasons
there he had I think yeah he went to St Mary's and then and then come back to
Old Boys so that's Sam right so I'll go now because Sam obviously well I don't

(01:03:48):
know if your tech class is playing or not playing anymore because he's still
signed on at Old Boys he's had a couple of games this year but he's not really playing.
He's got family commitments and work stuff.
So I'll go with your first retired player. My first retired player, centre-back. Right.
Haven't heard from him in years. Don McGreedy from Peel.
What a guy. He was a beast, wasn't he, at the back? He played against him.

(01:04:11):
He, come on, was against him.
Obviously, 9'7", 3'3". Yeah. But he was a great player.
He was so good. Such a good player. A great guy, a foreman for Hartford Homes
and I've known him off the field as well. Yeah.
So that's it. So you've got Simon Daunt. Who's your first outfield player that's

(01:04:32):
still playing? Join him as centre-back.
And I would say the best centre-back that I've played behind and watched, Sean Quay.
Another one. Another one, yeah. Still playing. I don't know how Quay is still going.
To be honest, the man's had a fair few injuries in his time.
He's had his ups he's had his downs and he still manages to turn up every week

(01:04:52):
for St George's so that's quality so now we'll move on who's your next retired player?
My next retired player erm I.
Well, I had a midfield pick down, had him wide out on the right because I couldn't
put him up with the other one, was Pekka.
I'll take that, I'll take that, yeah. If you're playing Pekka in there,

(01:05:14):
he's a goal machine, but if you're playing him in there, you're playing him in there.
He'll switch him around and bring him back. Well, yeah, you can play him where he wants.
I know he did play a couple of games at the start of the season,
but I think he's sacked Saturday football off now, so that's gone for him.
So who's your next current player? and he would go out on the left Chris Bass
Jr again, what a player I don't think you're going to get a better player than

(01:05:39):
him that's been on the Isle of Man.
He's so good I know he's had his knee injury and stuff over this year and that's
got nothing to do with his height I just want to put it out there,
and I'm a lot taller than him.
I'm sure Bassie will listen to that, I'm sure he'll love that,
so we'll move on who's your next and final retired
player well I put him up front because he

(01:06:02):
was unplayable at the time Callum Morrison
the shire he was unreal at
a party animal but he was so good
at anything he did like he was a powerhouse his head
volley left foot right foot he knew how to play technically you know what he
was technically gifted but he was so strong as well like Morrissey he's always

(01:06:26):
been like that hasn't he you know he's just a unit and he always knew where
the net was but do you know what I think Callum Morris' best quality is?
How he winds people up oh yeah what he he could wind the most placid man in
the world and that's the thing winding players up getting in their heads throws them off their game and,
he had that quality and he was just all round I think he got I remember years

(01:06:51):
ago he got AFC Wimbledon offered him a contract I can't remember he was offered
somewhere but it was two months you know he had the The family and stuff, yeah.
He was brilliant, man. There's another player there that would have,
back in the day, walked in with Seattle. Well, yeah, he was.
Him and Peck were both in there at the start, weren't they? When,
I think, Senior was managing them, him and Peck were.

(01:07:12):
I think they both, I can't remember if they both played in the initial game. I think they might have.
But yeah, he was there. He's definitely there. And as well, like you talk,
the players that you mentioned here as well, all Ireland caps as well,
you know, they've all played for the Ireland Man national team and represented them.
I think Peke, I think Quay went out, didn't he?
When they all represented England. I know Sam did as one of the keepers.

(01:07:33):
So yeah. So who's your final player, Rob? That's currently still playing.
The final one who would captain the team, that's Robbie Ward.
What? Fair enough. I would honestly... One of the left four?
Mate. I used to be petrified when he picked the ball when I played against him.
It was great being behind him, but see being in front of him, it was a free kick.

(01:07:55):
I'd always say to him, don't have a free kick around the edge of the box.
Robbie Ward was a pinger. And he's so lethal from anywhere with it.
And I remember it was the semifinals of the cup, the FA Cup,
my last game for Laxey, I got in the final.
And it was like extra time or something. And I saved a shot from Robbie Ward.
And he was like praised me how good I didn't

(01:08:18):
have a clue what happened yeah I honestly just threw myself at a ball and I
couldn't I went yeah yeah it was great and I was like I didn't know what happened
yeah and I saved it and I think that's the first time I'm glad I'm not facing
that again yeah because he was and what he does for Old Boys from the start
when I first came onto the Isle of Man he was a great guy and,
he was a great player then and he's just kept it through he's kept I know when

(01:08:42):
Old Boys just groveling Robbie like I was there Yeah, Robbie was a big driving force behind it.
And I spoke to him. Do you know what? I spoke to him.
And it was like an off-the-cuff. I can't remember what it was I talked to him.
He was on a bad island and he'd gone away and they weren't allowed to drink
anywhere and have a few drinks.
Do you know what? That was just Robbie Moore. Listen, I can still do this.
I can do it. And the old school footballer that would...

(01:09:05):
But he was still so passionate and he's still so passionate about this game. He loves old boys.
You're reffing, he plays. He doesn't care who's reffing him.
He doesn't care who he's playing against. He's there to win.
He's a battler. He gives shit all game. He will kill and everything.
And off that game, he'll sit and have a chat with you and say,
oh, I don't think, and he will talk to you. You'll see him out.
He'll have a laugh with you. He's great.

(01:09:25):
I had him in, luckily, in the Vets as well, playing.
And even in the Vets, his passion for football from start to finish could drive
any team forward and I think a lot of the driving force in behind our boys is
Robbie Ward and he's a great,
for the young player is by the
players that I've named if you watch them in their prime or watch

(01:09:46):
them even towards the end of the career they're the kind of players you want
to follow in the footsteps of and be like especially in Manx football yeah the
green players and the artwork and seeing the input that some of them have had
on their clubs as well well you
look at Peck at the start of the season scored his 300th goal for, say,
Premier League or because I think he got a couple for gyms, didn't he, back in the day? Yeah.

(01:10:08):
Obviously, Pekka got them.
Morrissey scored loads of goals. Quay has won numerous Grand Slams.
All them players in there are probably, Sam, Robbie, probably haven't won as
much as the others, but that's...
Yeah, they've still won trophies, but I don't think they've won as much,

(01:10:28):
but that just shows their dedication to the club they were at.
It's the mentality of the author.
Yeah, yeah. If you watch Robbie Ward now, Robbie Ward is the type of person
that in his 65 years old, sat at home and all boys were sure he'd be the first
off his seat. Well, you look at his dad.
I think his dad's in his mid to late 50s. And I think his dad's played every
year for about the past 10 years.

(01:10:49):
And for a rather goalkeeper, he's still throwing himself in the sticks.
It's just absolutely mental, mate.
So, Slinger, that's your team. Who's managing it?
Going to have to go back to the dad of Mike Sporty and that's the greatest manager
of Mike Sporty and it's Chris Bass Senior. And you know what?
We don't even need to say anything about him, do we? Everyone knows Chris Bass Senior.

(01:11:11):
That's it. Line drawn under. Job done.
So that's your team. Thanks for your time today, Slater.
Before we go, have you got a message to anyone that wants to get into refereeing?
Do you know what? I would challenge anyone to do it because whether you're my age,
age you actually don't realize how close
you are to becoming a professional now all these

(01:11:33):
there are kids that are coming into
senior football that aren't going to get played in division two can't be the
one to be a part of football there are kids in division division one that come
into an end there's young lads there's old lads that aren't going to get the
career that they thought when they're running around with Lionel Messi on the
back of their shirts I used to do the same I used you should think I was going

(01:11:53):
to be the big goalkeeper.
Well, obviously not big, but a goalkeeper. A goalkeeper.
Yeah. At some point, whether it was in the Subuteo or it was in the professional
ranks. And I didn't get that opportunity.
Now, my progression now into level four takes me into the county leagues.
You're not far off. You're literally a promotion level three,

(01:12:15):
a level three in a certain part.
You can be an assistant in the football league.
You've got the wins, it'd be great to see more women referees
it really would we have jane and she's doing a fantastic job
it'd be i want to see her personally do a senior men's
fan because that's another stepping stone of
the island i don't know of a female referee it's left it's not one on the island

(01:12:37):
that's not one on the island let's get it going and let's have an ambassador
for female football referees on the island man and there's you've got the prime
example there you've got But referees coming through now that want to get to
level four, Tom Halliwell, massive.
He can go a lot further than I ever will because of his age.
The age is a massive thing. The younger they get involved, the further they can go.

(01:13:00):
If you look at the pyramid and you look at the track to your achievements,
you are literally not that far off professional.
And how even the better. We have the opportunity on the Isle of Man of having
an alliance from the championship being a part of us and helping us progress.
He's trying to progress the mights for trying to progress
referees like i said we're not out to ruin games we're

(01:13:21):
not here if we miss a tackle i adjacent hill we're not gonna we're not perfect
we miss a foul we miss something but we're supposed to watch 22 men but 22 men
only have one job to watch one ball but we're in the wrong we don't have we
get booed and everything but.

(01:13:42):
It's how you communicate that's the main thing communication is key now the
abuse if you watch this and they say oh I don't want to do refereeing because
of the abuse it's how you deal with it it's how you match the game if you're a referee that,
regimentally rules the roost and won't talk to players, they're going to get their backs up.
It's like having an argument with your missus. You want to know why she's not

(01:14:03):
talking to you, you go and challenge her.
That's what's going to happen with the referee. You're going to get challenged
for the suit. Explain it. You know the laws, you know what you've got. Explain it and go.
Get the games on. And I would, anyone, you know what a player I was. I'm doing it. Yeah.
It's, it has its difficult patches, but I'll be honest, I'm going to be honest with you. It's easy.

(01:14:24):
Game for it. These players wreck themselves. you put
with it's mainly wine and that's all
it is and if you've got a kid you can
it's a it's a it's a it's a break from them on a saturday yeah
well that's the main thing yeah but no i i'd recommend anyone and if you've
got sons daughters that want to be involved with refereeing they've got a channel

(01:14:44):
to follow and it is if they have the dream of being a professional this is a
way to be be a part of it within the game.
Yeah, you're going to be on the back pages of the papers for disagreeing with
BAR, but you can't. It is what it is, isn't it, mate? It is what it is.
We're not all going to get there. No, but I'd encourage anybody to do it.
Nice one. All right, Slinger, cheers for your time, mate. No problem,

(01:15:06):
mate. And I'm sure I'll catch up with you soon. Definitely. All right,
cheers, Slinger. Cheers.
Music.