Not the greatest ref, but a true trailblazer and it's difficult to imagine just how tough his career was. Brave man, I'm sure!
From his Wikipedia entry: He had a master's degree in business administration and law, and was a magistrate in Sheffield. Just couldn't stop enforcing the rules! It's a bit sad that he's basically still a one-off. Given the amount of **** that the officials get though, I understand it. The whole system needs something of an overhaul.
The weird thing is I remember for a few years fan polling often rated him one of the best refs in the country, then out of the blue he was suddenly rated the dirt worst So, which club did he make a call against which their fanbase went utterly batshit over that season...?
I used to think he was fine ref, never really had an issue with anything. Sad really, especially when he is only a few years older than me. Makes you realise just how short life can be at times.. RIP.
Totally agree with this I think its fair to say that he was held to a different standard than most of the incompetents around him. I'd like to say that times have changed, but the total absence of black refs in the PL suggests otherwise. I can only think of one, Sam Allison, off the top of my head since Rennie and I haven't seen him officiate for a couple of years.
Allison reffed two Premier League games early last season and three the season before. He spent most of the campaign in the Championship, but appears to have stopped in April. Might have picked up an injury.
