17th February 2023 - Ref Support & Wingate and Finchley

Season 7, Episode 26,   Feb 17, 2023, 05:00 AM

In a week when the BBC are citing the awful statistics of referees being abused, injured or attacked, we speak with old friend of the Show Martin Cassidy. CEO of independent charity Ref Support he’s actually in positive mood - not that the darker side of football isn’t there, but that the publicity means things are a changing with the FA looking at body cam roll-outs to help referees, help players and help the game,

Our next guest has a tale to tell. His side 3-0 down with 8 minute of normal time to play in a real six pointer in a potential relegation battle. Not only did they win 4-3 deep into injury time but their goalkeeper was the one to score the equaliser too. Ahmet Rifat has been at Wingate & Finchley for nearly a decade and a half as player, Director of Football and now manager and this is likely to go down as one of his favourite memories.

Rounding it all up Jon Couch from the Non League paper as the season really does begin to reach the exciting final third