glass half fullTerminal BoardomFrom Despair To Where? v Tranmere 1983/84. We won 1-0 with a late Mark White free kick. Our last home game in Division 4.
I was there. Towards the end of the game the ref plays an advantage for Reading and almost immediately, we lose posession. The South Bank give it the "Who's the oxf*rd in the black?". The ref stops, looks at the South Bank, and points to his chest! The place errupted with laughter. Brilliant spontaneity from the ref and totally difused the situation. Women got in for free that day as well. How frigging sexist does it get?
There was a time when referees were directed to go into the dressing rooms before the game to give a 'pep talk' Apparently, in the Jack Mansell era, one ref went in and said simply: " Right lads, I'm a cnut. Now let's get on with the game!"
Do referees today have the same sense of humour?
I remember going to see a match at spurs in the 80s, and Roger Milford was ref. He'd given some dodgy decision, so the crowd sang "the referee's a w****r" at him, at which point he turned to them, did the w****r sign with his hand and nodded vigorously.