The first former professional footballer of note to become a referee. The Newark-born centre-half made almost 450 League appearances for Nottingham Forest, Huddersfield Town, Bradford City, Walsall, Bury, Scunthorpe United and Chesterfield. Then one morning, soon after his retirement in 1987, he opened up his paper and came across an article that piqued his interest.
The former Liverpool defender, Tommy Smith, and the former Chelsea defender, Ron ‘Chopper’ Harris, were talking about how they thought ex-pros would make good referees. Not a bad idea that, Baines thought. And so he signed up for a course at his local FA, and took up the challenge.
Seven years later, he was officiating in the Football League. Historically – and until very recently – climbing the ranks to that level had taken refs a decade or more. But Baines reckoned his playing experience gave him an edge. “It’s about knowledge, recognition. You understand what’s going off, what’s coming next,” Baines, who refereed in the Football League for eight years, told me last year. “I’d done all the things the players had done. I’d been in their boots.”
Thirty years later, Baines, who turns 70 this month, remains the only fully-fledged professional footballer to have become a referee. Maybe though, with the standard of officiating under scrutiny like never before, that could soon be about to change. More than 120 PFA members have issued an interest in a new “Player to Referee” course being piloted by the players’ union and Professional Game Match Officials Limited (PGMOL). In the coming weeks, that number will be whittled down to a chosen 12.
Denne historien er fra June 16, 2024-utgaven av The Non-League Football Paper.
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Denne historien er fra June 16, 2024-utgaven av The Non-League Football Paper.
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ENSIGN TEEN IS TAYLOR MADE!
WHITE Ensign boss Aaron Bloxham has hailed teenage talent Taylor Jacobi after his stoppage-time winner created history.
RAMADAN A RHYTHM IS BACK IN AT BLUES!
CEMAL RAMADAN reckons Bury Town have got back into their rhythm- but knows the Isthmian North title race is going to be a long haul.
DECRUZ IS SINGING THE BLUES FOR DREAM TIE
MERSTHAM manager Jamie Decruz says it would be \"crazy\" not to stage his side's glamour FA Youth Cup tie with Chelsea anywhere other than Stamford Bridge.
GLASSBOYS'JORDAAN IS A SCROOGE FOR BUCKS!
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CLINICAL CALLUM HITS THE BULLSEYE
DARTFORD their D place in the play-off places as a 79th-minute goal from Callum Jones gave Adrian Pennock's side all three points.
ARDLEY'S OFF TO A WINNER!
NEAL Ardley got off to a winning start as Woking boss with victory over play-off chasing Altrincham and then admitted the Robins have set the mantra he would like the Cards to follow.
MADINE'S A MARVEL AT POOLS
GARY Madine's third goal in a Hartlepool United shirt fired his team to within two points of the National League play-offs after a dramatic victory over Yeovil Town.
BEES RATTLED BY TOP TOWN
BARNET slipped behind York City at the top of the National League after they were held to a draw by FC Halifax Town - a result thoroughly deserved by the Shaymen who battled for the whole game and gave the Bees barely a sight of goal.
Rovers denied by resilient Shots
DISAPPOINTED Steve Cotterill believes that his side had enough chances to beat Aldershot Town after dropping two points in their title quest.
KEEPER JOS REVELS AS GOAL HERO
IF you think goalkeepers never score, you must be Bark-ing mad.