"Howard Webb?"

"Yes. I think he's very good, he's been a referee and assistant referee in the regional leagues, and he's been a referee and assistant referee in the northern league. And he's been playing really well and I think he should be able to enforce this game. ”

The FA's referees' committee.

The '95-96 season is coming to an end. For English football, the end of the season is a time of great competition. There are FA Cup finals, as well as promotion play-offs for League One, promotion play-offs for League Two, promotion play-offs for League C, and promotion play-offs for Anglo-African United. These games are very important.

Don't underestimate those promotion play-offs. Because it is directly related to the fate of the club, these play-offs are very important in English football. Even in the small English League C promotion play-offs, the referees selected are all Premier League level referees.

For these heavyweight matches, the referee committee has been discussing the final referees. It wasn't until the EFL promotion play-off was discussed that Howard Webb's name was raised.

"Howard Webb?"

Except for some officials sent by the FA, the others were composed of veteran referees in English football. The old referees were all looking at each other, because Howard Webb was a young referee they weren't familiar with, but many of his fathers in the room knew each other.

Howard Webb's father, though not as successful as Jack Taylor, was also a referee in English football for thirty-five years. Although he didn't have much fame, he had a deep relationship with many referees when there weren't many referees. There are a lot of referees sitting here today who worked with Howard Webb's dad back then.

Some people think that Howard Webb is young and inexperienced. After all, he had only become an assistant referee in the Football League three months ago, so it was too hasty for him to officiate the promotion play-offs of the Anglo-African League. It's just that everyone is waiting for the first person to say, and no one wants to be the first to object.

"I think it's fine."

The first to speak was Wade Eagles, director of South Yorkshire's Referee Management Committee. Wade Eagles and Howard Webb's father refereed together.

Howard Webb was a South Yorkshire police officer, and his father had come out of here. And Wade Eagles is not content to be a nominal local referee in South Yorkshire, he must squeeze into the FA's top refereeing hierarchy. However, he didn't have many achievements in his refereeing career, so it was not so easy to climb up.

Then he needs to have good referees to back him. Howard Webb, who is half of his country, from the same place, and has a cooperative relationship, is a good candidate.

"I don't think there's a problem either. I also watched Howard Webb play for a while and he was a very good referee. ”

Unlike Jack Taylor, who usually sits there and rarely speaks, this time he suddenly spoke in support of Webb. Although Jack Taylor had supported Webb before, he had never supported Webb at such an important moment.

Because once Webb does officiate this game, it will be a decisive benefit for Webb's future. Because being able to officiate the Anglo-African United promotion play-offs is completely a matter for Premier League-level referees. With this experience, it was much easier for Webb to qualify as a referee in the football league. That's a year and a half.

"Jack, you ......"

Many veteran referees were surprised to see Jack Taylor backing Webb. I didn't hear that Jack Taylor and Webb had such a deep relationship. Jack Taylor smiled and said nothing.

Jack Taylor certainly wasn't for Webb. Although he had a good relationship with Weber, he had not yet reached the point of such strong support. The reason why Jack Taylor pushed Webb was precisely for Jack, who was currently following Webb.

Ever since the first successful collaboration, Jack has been following Webb. Even for this reason, there were a few Anglo-African linesmen.

"I think it's okay."

Suddenly, there was a guy up there who supported Webb as well. Everyone didn't look up and knew who this person was. Because his voice is unique, domineering and loud.

Philip Don, there's no one in this room who doesn't know Philip Don. Jack Taylor is not on the FA or on the referees' committee. While it was easy for him to get on the FA and refereeing committees, Jack Taylor had no ambitions in that regard. Therefore, I just hang up a consultant position here, and come out and report when there is something.

If Jack Taylor's greatest thing is his prestige, his connections in the world of refereeing. But the real deterrent is not necessarily greater than that of Philip Don. Because Philip Don is a real powerhouse on the referees' committee.

Philippe Don has been hailed as the next England chief referee, which shows his strength in English football.

"Philip, but Referee Webb is too young after all. He was not yet twenty-five years old. ”

Or someone has finally spoken out about the problem. Webb was too young, not yet twenty-five. In terms of qualifications, how can he be the referee of the promotion play-offs of the Anglo-African Union.

"If you can have a 30-year-old coach and a 16-year-old or seventeen-year-old player, why can't the referee be young? As long as you have enough strength, what are you afraid of. Isn't it just an indication of the improvement of the standard of refereeing in England? That's a good thing. ”

Philip Don is inherently tough, and everyone knows that. Veteran referees like Jack Taylor, although influential, rarely interfere in specific matters. But Philip Don is different, he will push forward with anything he does. In the FA, which is a slow and inefficient organisation, a figure like Philip Down is definitely rare.

"Yes, there is always genius. Like Jack next to me. ”

Wade Eagles even made a little joke.

"Keith, what do you think?"

Philip Don turned his head and asked another heavyweight on the referees, Keith Hackett. He and Philip Don are on the same page, and both are committed to the professionalism of refereeing.

"I don't think it's a problem. Howard was originally one of the referees we focused on cultivating, and such an important game as law enforcement also trained him. If you don't even have such an experience, how can you enforce the Premier League in the future. ”

Philip Don and Keith Hackett, although both committed to the professionalism of refereeing, have completely different personalities. Philip Don was in a hurry and pushed this policy hard. Keith Hackett, on the other hand, is slow.

When Keith Hackett also supported Howard Webb, Webb, a young referee who had just been an assistant referee in the football league for only three months, turned out to be one of the referees of the Anglo-African promotion play-offs, and even qualified to officiate in the final of the Anglo-African promotion play-offs.

…………

"Howard, congratulations."

Jack is sincere congratulations to Webb. Who would have thought that a young referee like Webb would be able to officiate in the promotion play-off final of the Anglo-African Union. After all, after the promotion of the Anglo-African Union, it is to enter the League C, which is a real professional league.

Therefore, the promotion play-offs of the Anglo-African League every season are more important. In general, for such an important game as officiating, the FA appoints referees who are qualified to officiate in the Premier League. Or the FA is ready to promote to the Premier League's key training targets, that is, those who have already started to be referees in League One are eligible.

Even those Premier League referees who write their CVs will write about important matches that they have officiated. Matches like the Anglo-African League promotion play-off final are included in it, as such matches are far more worthy of a close-up than half of the League One games.

Weber, however, had nothing. Just three months ago, he was the referee of the Northern League. After three months, he started to be a referee in the Anglo-African Union. But it was only less than 10 Anglo-African League games. What qualifications does such Webb have to officiate the promotion play-offs of the Anglo-African Union.

I don't know how many referees are cursing Webb.

"Thank you."

Webb is also in a good mood right now. Although Webber is a key target of the FA's training, he is only one of the training targets. In addition to young referees such as Webb and Clattenburg in the Northern League, there are also referees in the Southern League, Anglo-African United, and of course, in League One, League B, and League C. There are not one or two referees who have been trained by the FA.

Webb's promotion was quick. Even Webb himself was very surprised. In Webb's view, he is eligible to officiate in the promotion play-offs at least a year or two from now.

Now the more Webb looks at Jack, the happier he becomes. Working with him was the right decision. Those old referees have nothing to do, so it's their ability to mess around. But Jack Taylor came out to support and suppressed the other old referees at once. No matter how good those old referees are, who can compare to the greatest referee in the history of England, Jack Taylor.

"Jack, don't worry. I've applied for you to be an assistant referee for that game and there won't be too many problems. ”

Only when there are contacts can we continue to cooperate. Jack Taylor pushed himself, and of course Webb wanted to repay Jack Taylor. The reason why Jack Taylor supports himself must be because of Jack. So Webb reciprocated the favor and supported Jack as his assistant referee.

This is also a huge step forward for Jack. After all, Jack has just become an assistant referee in the Northern League this season, but once he becomes an assistant referee for this game, this will be an important qualification for Jack.

"Thank you, Howard."

Jack looked at Webb with pleasure. This is Webb's chance, because Webb can use this opportunity to become the referee of the football league. It was also an important opportunity for Jack, who could become an assistant referee in the football league.