TTTONLF Meets…Sean Divitt, Non-League Referee

Welcome back to another TTTONLF meets, and this time we sit down and listen to Sean Divitt a Non-League referee. I know I know, to many of you they are the enemy on a matchday but without them a game is not possible!

So what attracted Sean to become a ref and why does he continue to come back week after week when it really is the ultimate thankless task in all of football?

Lets find out by getting stuck into the interview with Sean!

Name – Sean Divitt

Age – 51

Favourite team – Aston Villa

Occupation – Warehouse trainer

Thing I love about football – Being involved still in the game , the banter , the fitness.

My football pet hate – Players that want to injure other players.

What inspired you to become a referee, and how did you get started?

I played a lot of football but at the end I was getting more injuries and started to have time off work due to this , I knew I couldn’t just quit so wanted to give something back . I took the course 21 yrs ago and never looked back .

How has you experience of playing helped with refereeing?

Playing football has helped me loads in decision making , you know as a player if you’re going in to hurt someone or if it’s genuinely mistimed accident.

What do you enjoy most about being a non-league referee?

Banter , a few coaches / managers that I see and know I have played against and they respect I’ve played .

What does a typical matchday look like for you?

In the week before we confirm with clubs , officials etc to make sure everything is still ok , meet 1 hour before at the latest.

Have a chat , warm up , I have an energy drink , check no kit clashes (goalkeepers usually). Then we are set !

Do you tend to officiate games with the same other officials week in week out?

No most games are different officials, some might need a certain game to gain experience or need to be observed if going for promotion . So most games are a different team of officials.

What has been your most memorable match as a referee and why?

I’ve had some decent grassroots finals and those are always enjoyable and a nice way for a league to say thank you for the season .

What are the biggest challenges you face in non-league football?

Standards of pitches / facilities. The amount of money that is in the top level game isnt get passed down enough through the grassroots system.

How do you handle abuse or criticism from players, coaches, or fans?

Fans I can not do much about , unless it’s homophobic/ racism/ derogatory etc . Coaches won’t be on the sideline / dugout too long after a warning if they persist , and players at grassroots have a sin bin option which is one of the best things around at the moment.

Have you ever had to make a really difficult decision in a game, and how did you deal with it?

Abandoning a game due to serious injury is always a horrible thing to do , but safety and welfare of all on a pitch comes into play . Even though a player could have been stretchered off , players from both sides could be traumatised by what’s happened .

How do you stay up to date with the latest rules and regulations?

Always using the IFAB app to check some scenarios out . And the FA are going at emailing us new laws and directives .

What’s the most misunderstood rule in football from your perspective as a referee?

Safety of an opponent in a tackle , just because a player has won a ball , they think they can go in as hard as they like . It’s not the 1980’s anymore.

After a game you have to write a match report, how difficult can that be if there has been an exceptionally difficult/busy game for you?

That’s when we as a team come together and try to piece things together ! I usually drop notes in my pad of times of incidents , numbers of offending players , what happened etc so I can get them in order in the match report.

How do you balance refereeing with other commitments, such as work or family life?

I let the league/s know my availability before every season and I plan games around personal and work life balance.

What advice would you give to someone thinking about becoming a referee?

Don’t take anthing personally , in one ear out the other . If it gets to much you have the cards and sin bin to help .

Do you have any ambitions to progress to a higher level of refereeing, or are you happy in non-league football?

I’m at a stage now that I have a great balance and it all works for me , at 51 I will stay the level that I am and enjoy the football .

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Thanks to Sean for braving my questions and answering so candidly. His job is not one many look to carry out yet the role is so vital to the game that I do applaud anyone and everyone who decides to brave wearing the blacks on a matchday and take to the centre of the pitch.

It is very interesting to see how Sean finds his experience of playing football helpful in how he manages and refs games himself. I think personally that is absolutely key and should be encouraged of all referees at all levels, the understanding of the game from the inside and not just the rules is often a big frustration from fans and it seems Sean gets that 100%.

Anybody fancy being a ref now..?

Until next time!

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Non-League magazine ‘Parks to Pitches’