Seeing Red (33 page)
Authors: Graham Poll
This table shows all the teams who spent any time in the Premier League while I was refereeing in that competition (between 1993/94 and 2006/07). This is the analysis of their games which I refereed. I included cup games, but awarded points for those matches as if they had been in the League. So Manchester United averaged the most points from the games I refereed â but that is because they were the best team during that period and won eight titles. It surprised me that Wimbledon were the second most successful team in games I refereed. But I only really took charge of them during their very successful spell. Nottingham Forest and Leeds are right up there for the same reason, and yet, as I write, they are both in the third tier of English
Total | Goals | Av | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| P | W | D | L | F | A | Diff | Points |
| 57 | 36 | 12 | 9 | 102 | 56 | 46 | 2.105 |
| 24 | 14 | 5 | 5 | 41 | 30 | 11 | 1.958 |
| 54 | 26 | 18 | 10 | 88 | 54 | 34 | 1.778 |
| 11 | 5 | 4 | 2 | 18 | 15 | 3 | 1.727 |
| 36 | 18 | 7 | 11 | 51 | 37 | 14 | 1.694 |
| 23 | 10 | 8 | 5 | 48 | 36 | 12 | 1.652 |
| 49 | 22 | 13 | 14 | 68 | 49 | 19 | 1.612 |
| 32 | 14 | 9 | 9 | 38 | 30 | 8 | 1.594 |
| 47 | 22 | 7 | 18 | 70 | 59 | 11 | 1.553 |
| 35 | 12 | 15 | 8 | 44 | 39 | 5 | 1.457 |
| 11 | 3 | 7 | 1 | 14 | 10 | 4 | 1.455 |
| 36 | 13 | 13 | 10 | 50 | 46 | 4 | 1.444 |
| 38 | 15 | 9 | 14 | 61 | 49 | 12 | 1.421 |
| 19 | 7 | 6 | 6 | 27 | 25 | 2 | 1.421 |
| 17 | 7 | 3 | 7 | 23 | 20 | 3 | 1.412 |
| 15 | 6 | 3 | 6 | 16 | 19 | -3 | 1.400 |
| 24 | 9 | 6 | 9 | 29 | 32 | -3 | 1.375 |
| 35 | 12 | 12 | 11 | 47 | 41 | 6 | 1.371 |
| 25 | 9 | 7 | 9 | 37 | 35 | 2 | 1.360 |
| 9 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 13 | 8 | 5 | 1.333 |
| 9 | 4 | 0 | 5 | 15 | 17 | -2 | 1.333 |
| 21 | 8 | 4 | 9 | 24 | 29 | -5 | 1.333 |
| 8 | 2 | 4 | 2 | 11 | 13 | -2 | 1.250 |
| 14 | 4 | 4 | 6 | 17 | 30 | -13 | 1.143 |
| 28 | 9 | 5 | 14 | 36 | 53 | -17 | 1.143 |
| 9 | 3 | 1 | 5 | 12 | 20 | -8 | 1.111 |
| 21 | 6 | 5 | 10 | 18 | 27 | -9 | 1.095 |
| 17 | 4 | 6 | 7 | 23 | 26 | -3 | 1.059 |
| 38 | 10 | 9 | 19 | 47 | 59 | -12 | 1.026 |
| 30 | 6 | 10 | 14 | 32 | 45 | -13 | 0.933 |
| 30 | 7 | 7 | 16 | 31 | 51 | -20 | 0.933 |
| 20 | 4 | 6 | 10 | 24 | 29 | -5 | 0.900 |
| 12 | 2 | 4 | 6 | 15 | 21 | -6 | 0.833 |
| 10 | 2 | 2 | 6 | 10 | 15 | -5 | 0.800 |
| 15 | 1 | 5 | 9 | 14 | 23 | -9 | 0.533 |
| 4 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 3 | 7 | -4 | 0.500 |
football. I am sure Neil Warnock will draw some conclusion about the fact that when I refereed Sheffield United when he was manager, they averaged less than a point a game â but at least they are above Sheffield Wednesday.
There are some apparent anomalies. Spurs, for instance, are lower in the table than I expected, but that is partly explained by the statistical quirk that I refereed them in a lot of away games, and most of those away games were tough London derbies. So when you look at any club, bear in mind that I often refereed their toughest games.
Full career statistics at www.grahampoll.co.uk
This book is dedicated to my wife and children. My wife,Julia, has had to tolerate a lot of intrusions into the family life which we cherish so much, but her love has been steadfast and has provided my safe haven. Our children, Gemma, Josie and Harry supported their dad â and now they can support their favourite football teams with more gusto and less worry.
Special gratitude is also owed to my mum and dad, Beryl and Jim, whose role in my career is touched on in this book but whose importance in my life can never be adequatelyexpressed. I must record my special thanks as well to other family members who have shared my adventures and been there when I needed them. In particular, I want to state my appreciation of Julia's parents, Malcolm and Gill, who were not football people and yet responded supportively when both their daughters married referees! Julia's sister Tina, and her husband Tony Conn, must get a special mention, as must my sisters who followed my career closely, Deborah and Susan, and Susan's husband John and children Laura and James.
Special thanks as well go to Graham Barber, my best mate
in refereeing, who has proved a true and priceless friend, and to two journalists who collaborated with me on this book. Christopher Davies painstakingly compiled much of the information over the course of eight years and then Mick Dennis took up the writing baton and captured my âvoice'.
Let me also acknowledge my âback-up team'. Matt Weston, the referees' fitness instructor, somehow made me quick enough to keep up with Premiership players, and my local physio, Ros Needham, will probably have arthritic thumbs after all the work she did on my thighs over the years. Dr Panikos Sissou kept me supplied with painkillers and sleeping tablets when I needed them and, in later years, Gary Lewin performed miracles on my back.
While that lot were trying to sort out my body, sports psychologist Craig Mahoney went to work on my head. He helped me become strong enough to get over the bad times and also helped me appreciate the many good times.
Keith Hackett and Richard Scudamore believed in me and supported me one hundred per cent. Thank you, gentlemen.
I would also like to acknowledge the support of two friends in the media, Garry Richardson and Paul Hayward, and to recognize the long-term backing of the North Herts Referees Association and the Herts FA.
All my previous employers showed considerable understanding, especially Coty UK Limited, whose managing director, Ian Williamson, deserves my gratitude.
My friendship with David Allan, Jeremy Bingham and Alan Crompton has endured the years and, finally, I would like to thank the people of Tring for their quiet solidarity.
I have been very lucky with my friends and family and with my choice of home town and I acknowledge that now with heartfelt thanks.
Acimovic, Milenko
191
Adams, Micky
205
Allan, David
362
Allardyce, Sam
59
Allcock, Paul
136
Angel, Juan Pablo
201
Aranda, José Maria Garcia
announcing matches for World
Cup referees
288
motivational speeches
295
support for Poll
298
,
300
â
301
,
316
technical meetings for referees
290
,
300
three yellow cards incident
316
â
317
Archundia, Benito
293
Arsenal FC
Arsenal v Chelsea 2004
248
â
249
Arsenal v Liverpool 2000
254
â
255
Arsenal v Manchester United 2004
257
Arsenal v Manchester United 2005
258
â
261
Arsenal v Newcastle 2001
255
â
256
FA Cup semi-final 2003
140
â
143
Highbury tunnel incident
259
â
260
Manchester United v Arsenal 2004
252
rejecting Poll as Highbury
âThe Invincibles'
Artis, Steve
40
Asaba, Carl
140
Askey, Arthur
180
Asprilla, Tino
201
Aston Villa FC
Chelsea v Aston Villa 2006
10
Babski, Dave
192
Baker, John
155
Ball, Alan
293
Barber, Graham
advising Poll
273
equal status with Poll
183
friendship with Poll
149
,
153
,
361
â
362
marriage to Wendy
153
meeting Poll
153
not selected for Euro 2000
160
Paraguay v Colombia 2001
199
,
201
Poll's best man
126
Poll's decision to retire
38
â
39
professional camaraderie
180
refereeing style
95
referees' group meetings
181
retirement from refereeing
271
selection of referees for Euro 2004
239
â
240
support for Poll
242
three yellow cards incident
318
UEFA Cup Final 2005
265
Barber, Wendy
Euro 2000
162
marriage to Graham
153
Barratt, Keren
267
Barrie, Tony
154
Barthez, Fabian
165
Batistuta, Gabriel
194
Beckenbauer, Franz
283
Beckham, David
giving shirt to Collina
229
giving shirt to Gemma
5
outstanding player
73
sent off in World Cup
6
support for Poll
3
,
5
â
6
,
10
,
36
,
325
World Cup 2002
216
World Cup 2006
319
Bellamy, Craig
256
Bennett, Steve
avoiding reading press
coverage
171
refereeing style
95
referees' group meetings
182
selection of referees for World
support for Poll
242
UEFA Cup Final 2005
265
Berbatov, Dimitar
15
Berezutsky, Alexei
265
Bergkamp, Dennis
261
Bevington, Adrian
82
Bingham, Jeremy
362
Blatter, Sepp
Rooney swearing incident
118
support for Poll
325
Braamhaar, Eric
49
Bright, Barry
206
Browning, Peter
75
Bruce, Steve
207
Brunmeier, Horst
192
Bryan, Dave
194
Bullard, Jimmy
147
Cahill, Tim
24
Campbell, Sol
Arsenal v Newcastle 2001
256
FA Cup semi-final 2003
141
Cann, Darren
Poll's final match
69
Sevilla v Osasuna 2007
50
Cannavaro, Fabio
229
Carlos, Roberto
230
Carvalho, Daniel
265
Chaplin, Paul
130
Chelsea FC
allegations against Poll
17
â
20
,
23
â
24
,
34
â
35
Arsenal v Chelsea 2004
248
â
249
Chelsea v Aston Villa 2006
10
Chelsea v Manchester United 2007
55
â
62
Mourinho's verbal assault on
Poll alleged to be supporter
80
â
83
,
87
â
88
,
90
Tottenham v Chelsea 2006
10
â
11
,
13
â
21
Chimbonda, Pascal
15
Clattenburg, Mark
62
Cleese, John
302
Coffill, Laura
297
Coffill, Steve
99
Cole, Ashley
allegations against Poll
18
â
20
,
23
,
27
,
34
â
36
Arsenal v Manchester United 2005
260
injury
42
Cole, Joe
57
Collina, Pierluigi
advising Poll
258
Euro 2000
162
refereeing in South America
199
refereeing style
95
RefTalk website
154
retirement from refereeing
274
World Cup 2002
209
,
211
,
214
â
215
,
223
Collins, Patrick
139
Cooper, Keith
121
Corradi, Bernardo
40
Cotterill, Steve
7
Courtney, George
âEve of the Final Rally'
85
refereeing at World Cups
277
Coward, Nic
155
Dahlgren, Peter
231
Dallas, Hugh
Euro 2000
160
France v Czech Republic 2000
162
Poll's missing ID incident
163
refereeing in South America
199
Dawson, Michael
14
Dean, Mike
criticized by Poll
183
Holland v Australia friendly
289
referees' group meetings
181
â
182
Sevilla v Osasuna 2007
50
,
53
â
55
support for Poll
242
Deschamps, Didier
164
Di Matteo, Roberto
87
Djeparov, Server
274
Djorkaeff, Youri
165
Don, Philip
managing Select Group
95
,
159
,
169
,
240
Poll's practical jokes
119
refereeing career
159
refereeing style
95
referees turning professional
156
,
159
referees' group meetings
179
,
181
â
182
RefTalk website
155
support for Poll
184
Worthington Cup Final 2002
127
Dowie, Iain
232
Downes, Wally
147
Drogba, Didier
disallowed goal incident
14
,
17
â
18
sent off by Frisk
250
support for Poll
42
Drysdale, Darren
86
Dunn, Steve
refereeing style
95
referees' group meetings
181
retirement from refereeing
271
support for Poll
242
Durkin, Paul
not selected for Euro 2000
160
refereeing style
95
retirement from refereeing
271
support for Poll
242
D'Urso, Andy
Real Madrid v Borussia
Dortmund
230
referees' group meetings
182
Roma v Real Madrid 2001
194
Slovenia v Russia 2001
192
support for Poll
242