COME ON REF

JOHN LYONS TALKS TO FILM-MAKER GREG CRUTTWELL ABOUT HIS DOCUMENTARY ON GRASSROOTS REFEREES....

- JOHN LYONS

WE’VE probably all asked the question at some time or other: why on earth would you want to be a referee?

Well, film-maker Greg Cruttwell decided to seek the answers and the result is ‘In The Middle’, which launched in cinemas at the end of March.

The documentary follows a diverse group of match officials over the course of the Covid-curtailed 2019-20 season as they attempt to cope with the rigours of running grassroots matches.

From beginners to veterans, they talk about their passion for the game, their lives outside it and why they’re drawn to a role most people would run away from.

Cruttwell is well positioned to explore the subject. He founded Balham Blazers youth football club in 2001. It started with an under-tens team in which one of his children played and has since come on in leaps and bounds.

Now Balham FC, the club play in the Combined Counties League Premier Division South, the fifth tier of the Non-League game.

The In The Middle director and producer said: “I ran the club for 21 years and in doing that I’ve coached at thousands of games. One of the fascinating things was seeing the people in the middle.

“I met so many interesting people, but I didn’t really get a deep look into their lives. In grassroots football, it’s such an eclectic bunch of people.

“I wanted to do a documentary that goes behind the scenes and looks at these people. Who are this species? Why on earth would you turn up on a Saturday or Sunday just basically to get shouted at and get loads of abuse?”

So why does Cruttwell believe that people give up their free time in an often vain attempt to control 22 players?