"Jack, I'll treat you to a drink."

At the end of the game, Phil Dodd had something to do, so he left first. Jack was also ready to leave, but was intercepted by Atkinson in front of the pitch. Atkinson invited Jack with a smile.

"Okay."

Jack's impression of Atkinson is okay. Although it was the first time I saw him today, he left a deep impression on Jack. Especially when he heard that Atkinson was an alternative among the referees in the English football league, Jack was even more curious about him.

"Jack, it's the first time we've met, but I'm familiar with your name."

"Martin, tell a joke. I've been working as an assistant referee in the Northern League and the Anglo-African United, so what can I be known for? ”

Jack shook his head. In the English refereeing industry, if Jack is famous, he must have been promoted to assistant referee in the football league because of his rocket. After all, in conservative English football, the speed at which referees are promoted is remarkable. However, for conservative English football and conservative referees, such a speed of promotion is rejected by tradition.

"I watched the FAL promotion play-off final. Because Howard Webb referees. He's a young referee that the FA has developed so much so I'm following his game. ”

Atkinson was very frank. Jack could sense from his words that Atkinson was treating Webb as an opponent. But if you think about it, it's really possible for the two of them to become rivals.

Webb was only twenty-five years old, the same as Atkinson. But unlike Atkinson, Webb was too experienced at the bottom. He has refereed in the regional league, the northern league, and the Anglo-African United in these competitions, and even officiated in heavyweight matches such as the Anglo-African League promotion play-off final. Webber is young, but it is precisely because of these low-level referee experience, coupled with his age, that he has an unlimited future.

And Atkinson's refereeing philosophy is incompatible with the lower leagues, so the refereeing experience at the bottom is far less than Weber's. But Atkinson also has its own advantages.

That is, Atkinson came to League Two earlier than Webb and came to the English professional league earlier. And Atkinson has a very distinctive characteristic, that is, it has its own opinions.

Such a person will either be stepped on directly by others and will not have any chance to get ahead. Either you have a chance to soar and stand out from the crowd. It is clear that Atkinson falls into the latter category, as there are people at the top of the FA who support his claims, so he will not be buried.

Such two people are indeed opponents. Atkinson sees Webb as an opponent, understandably. For now, though, it's clear that Webber has left Atkinson far behind.

"The Webb referee shocked me too much. I can assure you that if it were me, I would never have the courage to do it. ”

Jack liked Atkinson's calmness. In that kind of game, not to mention Atkinson, even the current Premier League referees, it is estimated that most of them dare not give penalties. But they would never say that, because they all have good faces.

"But I'm even more convinced of your abilities. The replay of that game is in my hands, and even though you follow the last defender all the time, it's definitely not easy to tell in a split second that you have the ball across the goal line. That's why I've always wanted to get to know you. ”

"It's over. Martin, I think you're good enough. ”

"Why?"

"Because you have your own ideas. I admire you, and neither Howard nor I can speak our minds as clearly as you do. ”

Webb is decisive on the field, but a lot more tactful in handling things. Neither Webb nor Jack would risk offending the referees to publish something different from the current referee's opinion.

Young people need to be sharp, but not every young person dares to challenge the fixed ideas in the industry. Atkinson, on the other hand, is challenging the consensus of referees across England and the traditions inherent in English football. Such audacity cannot be explained by the fearlessness of young people.

"Huh."

Atkinson shook his head and said, "I'm not as brave as I thought. But, Jack, if you were the referee, how would you enforce the law? ”

"I think physicality is the beauty of football."

Jack and Atkinson have some different opinions, so Jack doesn't hide his opinion in the slightest. Hearing Jack's words, Atkinson did not show displeasure, but listened to Jack's words very carefully.

"But I also think that the current football in England, the physical confrontation has gone the wrong way. A lot of the action is already beyond the normal physical confrontation. Today's game was my first time officiating League Two, and I think the kind of pedaling and tackles in the game need to be regulated. Dangerous movements that harm a player's body should be strictly enforced, while normal physical confrontation should be encouraged. ”

"But Jack, do you know? Football on the European continent is already much better than we are, and we are still obsessed with physical confrontation. Our referees are still old ideas, and no one thinks that dangerous moves in the game should be restricted. ”

Atkinson was desperate to find some allies. Although with the support of Philip Tang, Atkinson can still have a chance to be the fourth referee. But because of the rejection of most referees, Atkinson is now very depressed. Even if he wants to enforce the law independently, there are many assistant referees who are reluctant to partner with him.

Of course, the FA sent them, and those assistant referees could only be obedient. But if they are not convinced, it will seriously restrict the prestige of the referee. Therefore, Atkinson is also very distressed.

So he thinks a young referee like Jack would agree with his views.

"Yes, it should be limited. In particular, restrictions on movements that endanger the player's body. Such an action should be sent off with a red card. ”

Jack is not in favor of restricting physical confrontation too much, and Jack wants to limit those dangerous moves. For example, when tackling a ball, you can light the soles of your shoes and then pedal them. Jack and Atkinson think the same thing.

"Jack, I reckon there will be a chance to officiate in League C in the second half of the season. Hope you can help me then. ”

Atkinson's maverick has been sidelined. Otherwise, with Atkinson's qualifications, as long as he becomes the referee of the football league, then he should be qualified to officiate in League One, League Two and League C.

However, Atkinson won the referee of the football league in the second half of the season, but only in the English League C. There aren't even too many opportunities in League Two, and that's some of the price.

"Martin, that would be my pleasure."

Jack was more than willing to work with Atkinson. Phil Dodd is a benefactor to Jack, after all, he is willing to give Jack a chance when Jack can't find a chance yet. And Phil Dodd is more than willing to continue working with Jack.

But Jack really doesn't agree with Phil Dodd's style of law enforcement. Although in terms of controlling the game, Phil Dodd can be regarded as having some ability. But his too lenient approach to law enforcement, Jack was really not satisfied.

Rather, Atkinson's ideas are something Jack agrees with. Phil Dodd's kindness, Jack has a chance to be willing to repay. But the difference in philosophy was a major disagreement for Jack.

"Thank you, Jack. Actually, there aren't many assistant referees who want to work with me at the moment. ”

Atkinson wants the referees to be strict with the game, and naturally hopes that the referees they cooperate with will also have enough quality and have the same ideas. So very satisfied with Jack.

"Martin, how about I introduce you to two referees? They are all very powerful people. ”

"Who?"

Mark Clattenburg, who is currently a referee in the Northern League. Another was Brett Vaughn, the first assistant referee in the Anglo-African promotion play-off final. They are very young and good referees. It is estimated that within this year, they should be able to get the qualification of assistant referees in the football league. ”

"Brett Vaughn, not very familiar. But Clattenburg, isn't that the star referee of your Northern League? ”

"Yes."

Clattenburg became an assistant referee in the Northern League at the age of eighteen, which can be described as a sensation in the entire English football world. Pretty much the referees knew him. And he's only twenty-one years old now, and he's already the head referee of the Northern League.

And he has rave reviews as a referee in the Northern League. Everyone knows that Clattenburg's entry into the football league as a referee is already a certainty, but they don't know when.

"Mark is also a harsh referee. You'll have a common language. ”

"I've wanted to get to know the star referee for a long time."

Atkinson is in a state where they really want to get to know some like-minded referees. However, the older referees in England did not agree with Atkinson, who wanted to find allies among the younger referees.

"In two days, in two days, I'll invite everyone to drink."