As a player or a fan, we’ve all moaned and groaned at a referee.
Outrageous offsides, dismal dismissals and now the dreaded VAR. They give us plenty of ammunition, and we are trigger happy with it. As the famous saying goes, who would be a referee? Especially after Aleksandar Mitrovic's push on Chris Kavanagh last Sunday and a host of other recent unsavoury incidents.
The appeal at professional level is clear. Thousands desperately glare at those in the middle when a decision is made. The narrative of a game hinges on the referee. It gives them relevance in the English game - a chance to stand alongside the stars.
At grassroots level, though, that glamour is in short supply. Semi-professional and amateur referees face dingy dressing rooms, excremental pitches and, in many instances, physical and verbal abuse. Why do they do it? It’s certainly not for the £30.
As Greg Cruttwell’s new film In The Middle proves, grassroots referees do their side job because they love the game. The new documentary follows a group of officials during the 2019/20 campaign, which was curtailed by the Covid-19 pandemic.
All the referees in the film are entirely different characters. Steve Earl is a sunburnt retiree who’s just come back from a holiday in Alicante, where it rained to defy the odds. As you can imagine, Steve wasn’t too happy about that.
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Then there's Lucy Clark, a transgender official who's fought prejudice and a serious heart issue to continue refereeing. The film also features ambitious referees who are trying to climb the pyramid - with great difficulty - and others who are trying to replicate the buzz from playing.
All these referees adopt different approaches. As one elderly referee called Alan Halfacre - nicknamed "Mouse" because of his big ears - says, "I don't think I've ever sent anyone off in my whole career... I booked them and if they swore at me, I was quite capable of saying f*** off."
These referees have all faced different tribulations during their careers. Some have faced racism, sexism, homophobia and transphobia, while others have been spat at and even headbutted. The intimidation from players, coaches and fans is intense - and those of us who don't referee will ask whether it’s all too much. Yet none of the referees are ever deterred. They always come out on top.
The most interesting character in the film is Ron "Rocket" Clarkson, a linesman approaching his 76th birthday. The eccentric hoarder lived with his parrot and started refereeing in 1959. At the end of the film, he is given an award and a letter from the Football Association to commend him on his 60 years of service. Ron's pride at receiving the honour is obvious and touching. He sadly passed away in 2021.
Every single referee in the documentary is different, but they all share one crucial thing in common – their unwavering love for football. As Steve says, "The person who loves the game the most is the referee." Considering how difficult the job is at amateur level, it’s hard to disagree with that.
Their need for football was most apparent during the early stages of the Covid-19 pandemic. It's easy to forget just how many grassroots games were scrapped and how referees were suddenly left with nothing to do on a Saturday or Sunday afternoon. Cruttwell’s film utterly reflects this.
In The Middle shows what it’s like to referee at grassroots level and explains why they put up with the challenging side hustle. Yet the film’s main strength is its ability to confirm just how much these referees love football - something that tugs at your heartstrings.
It reminded me why I love football.
IN THE MIDDLE is in cinemas 31st March and VOD 1st May www.inthemiddlefilm.co.uk
