A REFEREE SPECTACLE

Overwhelmed by Ben's record breaking innings, it was Jack Leach who won the hearts of the ladies today in the press. The Old Carthusian Friars CC had a Leach type spin bowler and lower order batsman. Any OC or related cricketer reading this will know who I mean. Cracking lad, would get the glass cleaner out when he steamed up and would bat resolutely holding his end up. So, what a result and what a spectacle!

Of course it would be a Barnsley footballer who was the first player to wear contact lenses, Edward Bannister, would often be seen scrabbling about on the ground when one popped out. On a dark day when Bannister had a lens problem, he tackled the ref and it took Bannister's team mates to save him from being sent off.

Nobby Stiles of course was a short passer, who liked his colleagues to play nearby so he could see them! That also explains some of the diabolical tackles he committed, especially on Eusebio, in the 1966 World Cup semi-final. Good lad!

Alan Peacock of Middlesbrough had problems with the red and green parts of the colour spectrum having issues when playing Plymouth Argyle. A few professionals turned out in spectacles in the 1900s including Alex Raisbeck of Liverpool and the amateur goalie on Preston and Manchester City. They played at their own risk....what about the others?

Pat Partridge the referee was in charge of a game when a Stoke player lost a contact lens. He dropped his tossing coin on the pitch to mark the spot and sure enough after the game the groundsman found both!

Edgar Davids who suffered from glaucoma, played for Holland against Belgium in September 1999 and top clubs such as Milan, Juventus and Crystal Palace in 2012, and had "special safe glasses" made once FIFA agreed that new technology made spectacles safe. With 7% of men likely to have colour blindness, it is not surprising that referees have to have a colour blindness test before they are let loose. Needless to say refs and linesman have blind spots or just miss stuff. Thank heavens for VAR.....hmmm.

Before VAR, when Partick Thistle played Dundee Utd in February 1993 Paddy Connolly of United shot and his shot entered the goal, hit the stanchion and the ball rebounded to a Patrick defender picked up the ball and threw it to his goalkeeper. The Dundee players celebrated, but the Thistle goalie booted the ball downfield and the referee waved "play on". He missed the goal and the handball! Referee, Leslie Mottram, a Scot, reffed in the 1994 FIFA World Cup finals and 1996 UEFA Tournament in England, ending up in Japan..