Halsey to Referee Stoke game

Well would you believe it!!!!!!!!!!

http://www.gillinghamfootballclub.com/page/NewsDetail/0,,10416~2554429,00.html

 

It's going to feel like one big reunion

 

Isn't it time to let go lads?

 

not for another 5 minutes.

 

Boom boom

 

thats our chances...even though slim anyway...over then!

 

Seeing as some folk want to yell at Peter Crouch (who I reckon is a thoroughly decent bloke who did nothing to deserve being insulted by Gills fans) it may be far more appropriate for them to focus on the despicable Halsey who deserves to be made to feel thoroughly uncomfortable. Perhaps as a minimum we could have a presentation ceremony before the game when Scally could present a new watch and Halsey could hand over his Man City shirt. Perhaps at the end of the game we could arrange for Dickov and Halsey to run a circuit of the pitch whilst Gills fans wish them Happy New Year.

 

READY!! AIM!! FIRE!! just kinding READY!! AIM!! FIRE!! ok sorry!!

 

This just gets better !!! Reckon TV guys must be mad not to have this one on

Gills 1-0 Stoke (Crouch own goal 90+10)

 

Hold on I think you have got this the wrong way around. Halsey was simply doing his job, the notion that he added five minutes on to allow City to equalise and win is simply laughable. Crouch on the other hand has been called "freak" by numerous fans throughout the country and let be honest in was hardly unexpected behavour for football fans to single out oppenents for light hearted banter. But Crouch chose to insult the fans and club in such a public way, and is more deserving of banter far more than Halsey

 

I see reports today that burglars targeted Peter Crouch's £4.5m mansion, that's what happens when you live in a Hillybilly estate

 

Crouch was still a relative unknown back then and even as a Gills fan, I have to admit the abuse he got was excessive. He's gone on to prove what a decent guy he is. This time round it will be purely for the banter because of his comments since, but at the time it was much more sinister.

And the Halsey thing, I'm pretty sure Gills fans don't believe he added those minutes until they could equalise, more so it was hard to see at the time where those 5 minutes had actually come from.

 

GillinghamLAD to be honest I can't remember the banter being anymore aggressive than that recieved by other players from time to time, for example I can recall Standard getting a similar level of stick when playing for Fulham at Priestfield, did he go whinging to the press? Plus the book went much further than a dig at the fans, he recalled a story at which he wasn't even present (i.e his Dad observing the betting on Supermarket Sweep), which took it too far in my opinion, if you resentment is with the fans of the club keep it iwthin the fanbase.

Also the 5 minute extra time, as much as it pains me to say so, was justified. Given that refs are told to add 30 seconds for goals and subs in the second half we had 3 goals (1 min 30secs) and 6 subs (3mins) giving a total of 4 mins 30 sec before we start actually adding time on for stoppages and bookings (plus I remember the celebrations for the second Gills goal being well over 30seconds!)

 

Hang on...maybe he had/has got something against Pulis? In which case...

 

I cannot argue the Halsey case because I did not have a stopwatch to prove or disprove the add on. However it is not common to add 5 mins unless something fairly unusual has happened in terms of injuries and there seems to be a lot of belief that Halsey was following normal refereeing practice in leaning towards the big boys..
I was at that Portsmouth match which I recall was Boxing Day 2001 when a very young and inoffensive Peter Crouch was subject to ritual humiliation by Gills fans. I have always admired the way Crouch clambered out of the Championship to score 20 odd goals for England and I have always felt embarrassed about the way the Gills mob behaved on that day. To put it in perspective he was younger than Jack Payne or Child Rooney and what would we think if The Stoke fans picked on these two. To suggest what Crouch endured was banter simply means the person was not at the game....or they really are inbred hillbillies. I stick with my original view, Crouch deserves an apology, Halsey deserves to be presented with a watch.

 

Ok first things first I am not condoning the abuse / banter towards players at all, it isn't on at all but I have heard worse levelled at players than Crouch recieved that day. Of course it was just my experience and it probably varied hugely depending on where in the ground you were, but that is by the by.

Pehaps he was so young explains why he took it to heart so much, I simply don't know but the comments in the book were simply put in there for revenge, a petty get back at the fans, a cheap shot. Yes the fans were wrong but at they could have got caught up in the moment, Crouch has had years to come to terms with the event, prehaps be the bigger man and turn the other cheek... did he do this... no.

He took the a cold and calculated attack on the fans and the town (what the town did to deserve his wrath I don't know) in order to flog his book and make money. Not only that but the stick he uses to beat the town with is a second hand story!

Now does he deserve an apology from the fans for the taunts, probably but he should also apologise for what he published.

Halsey could at worst be called incompetent (which he probably has been, but the 5 minutes were justified under the laws of the game so we have to accept them) but Crouch was vindictive, mallicious and childish which is far worse.

 

Vindictive malicious and childish? What a load of rubbish. Crouchie acted like an ace bloke. He did not complain. He did not look to get subbed. He did not do a Nani or an Anton Ferdinand. He just got on with his business as a pro, played for Villa, Liverpool, Spurs and Stoke scored a load of goals for his country and at the height of his fame poked a bit of fun at the morons who had insulted him cruelly all those years before. Now that really is a class act and the situation is all the funnier because many of the Gills fans cannot see what pratts they are making of themselves.

 

Hang on, it is abuse when the fans do it to them but lighted hearted fun when he retalites??

 

Dont buy it that Halsey was justified for the five minutes !!1

Times change and so do our perceptions, but back then when holding up a board with how long is left was in its relative infancy refs usually gave 1 or 2 mins.
Not that day

 

It was following the letter of the law, although I was pretty annoyed went it up too.