One of the better referees out there but his performance in the World Cup Final in S. Africa left a lot to be desired, nonetheless a top rate official who went card crazy on that day. My all time favourite was Pierre Luigi Collina the Italian with the eyes that said "just you dare".
Shame, the game needs good strong refs and Howard was definatly one of those. I hope he stays in the program some how as an ambassodor or some such role. The refeering fraternity will be poorer without him.
Had to retire due to age, but could have gone on for another 5 years at least, I think he would go down as the most popular ref ever. was fair to the point of being extreme!
The players diving and cheating makes the refs job practically impossible. I echo what others have said - he did a good job and represented english football very well
Go along with that too- Best ref I saw live was Paul Durkin. Reffed a cup match we drew 0-0 against Bolton and you hardly knew he was on the pitch. Encouraged the game to flow and took no nonsense from any prima donna play acting.
My mate I used to work with was a tough tackling centre back when he played (ok to a reasonable non-league standard). When he got a career-ending knee injury he took up refereeing. The highlight of his refereeing career was officialing at a charity game at the millennium stadium in front of cameras with Tim Lovejoy (soccer AM) playing. He said to me that he loves refereeing more than he did playing. I can't identify with that, but he has refereed me twice - both times he talked to the players all through the game. He went into both dressing rooms before the games and said 'sometimes I will get it wrong and sometimes so will you. If everyone was perfect every game would be a draw. When I am unsure I will give a 60/50 to the defending side.' He still referees in Weymouth. Great ref and a great guy - despite being a Swindon fan.
He is only 43. The retirement age used to be 48 but due to EU law about enforced retirement under the state pension age, refs can carry on so long as they pass the fitness test and their assessment marks are good enough. Webb has decided to go early but will now have a job in referee management.
