REFEREES are far worse in the National League South than in the Ryman according to furious Hampton & Richmond Borough boss Alan Dowson – who says he now won’t speak to officials on matchdays again.
Such is the annoyance of the Geordie, he has called on the Football Association to deal with a problem he believes is spiralling out of control head on, and treat officiating in Non-League more seriously before people walk away.
Dowson, whose side have started superbly after winning the Ryman Premier last term, accused last Tuesday night’s official Colin Lymer of pre-match horseplay after heading the ball into the back of the net and celebrating a goal as his players were warming up.
In a blast he said he had no choice but to make, he told The NLP that the “arrogance” of certain match officials in the National League South could drive some out of the game.
Dowson accused the official on Tuesday of mocking him and his team at half-time saying the Beavers “weren’t good enough” as they eventually lost 2-0 to Whitehawk – only their second defeat of the season.
Challenging
The former Kingstonian boss said: “First of all we all know the job of a referee is a challenging one, nobody is saying any different.
“However I have found myself having to speak out after coming to the end of my tether. This season has been an eye opener. Before we won the Ryman League I was warned officiating is worse at the level above. It is worse, much worse – I’m speaking as a manager of a side sitting in second place remember.
“The clubs are better, the managers are better, the players and pitches and better but the referees are far worse.
“It’s a well-known problem and every manager agrees. I have been in football all my life and this is the worst level of officiating I have seen.
Contact
“On Tuesday he was larking about in the warm up heading the ball in the goal and pretending he’s scored an FA Cup final winner.
“Then when I mutter to him that his first half wasn’t good enough he says ‘a lot like your team then – just not good enough’. How is that acceptable?”
Dowson added: “It seems to be worse when they are being assessed. For me, they shouldn’t know they are being assessed. They act up to it and it makes the game impossible.
“We’re being let down. Why aren’t better referees from the lower levels being pushed up? Why are the bad ones not punished and relegated like the clubs if they have a bad season?
“I can name you ten Ryman referees who are easily better than National League ones. Why are they still doing games at the same level? It’s not how football should be. The FA need to treat this with more urgency.
“Tuesday night was the final straw for me. I always make a point of welcoming officials to my club, making sure they are looked after and going in to see them and say thank you after but that’s me done now, I won’t be in contact any longer. I’ll be leaving that to my coaching staff.”
So it’s ok for him to say the referee is not good enough but not the referee to say likewise. Referees are human, why shouldn’t they have a laugh? Although they are second, let’s remember this was after a defeat – stinks of sour grapes.