by Graham Poll
36 Watford 3 0 2 1 1 0 0 1
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 – 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
PWDLFADiffPoints
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 – 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
Acknowledgments
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 – 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 ‘voice’.
Let me also acknowledge my ‘back-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.
Index
Abramovich, Roman 247, 334
Acimovic, Milenko 191
Adams, Micky 205
Alarcon, Carlos 216–219
Allan, David 362
Allardyce, Sam 59
Allcock, Paul 136
Allison, Wayne 141–142
Angel, Juan Pablo 201
Aranda, José Maria Garcia
announcing matches for World
Cup referees 288
motivational speeches 295
support for Poll 298, 300–301, 316
technical meetings for referees 290, 300
three yellow cards incident 316–317
Archundia, Benito 293
Arsenal FC
Arsenal v Chelsea 2004 248–249
Arsenal v Liverpool 2000 254–255
Arsenal v Manchester United 2004 257
Arsenal v Manchester United 2005 258–261
Arsenal v Newcastle 2001 255–256
FA Cup semi-final 2003 140–143
Highbury tunnel incident 259–260
Manchester United v Arsenal 2004 252
rejecting Poll as Highbury
referee 256–257
‘The Invincibles’
Artis, Steve 40
Asaba, Carl 140
Ashby, Gerald 255–256
Ashworth, Jim 69, 72, 157
Askey, Arthur 180
Asprilla, Tino 201
Aston Villa FC
Chelsea v Aston Villa 2006 10
FA Cup Final 2000 87–88
Babski, Dave 192
Baker, John 155
Ball, Alan 293
Ballack, Michael 15, 18
Barber, Graham
advising Poll 273
Arbitro company 153–154
equal status with Poll 183
Euro 2000 162–163
friendship with Poll 149, 153, 361–362
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 38–39
professional camaraderie 180
Red Wine Club 181–183
refereeing style 95
referees’ group meetings 181
RefTalk website 154–155
retirement from refereeing 271
selection of referees for Euro 2004 239–240
sup
port for Poll 242
three yellow cards incident 318
UEFA Cup Final 2005 265
Barber, Wendy
Euro 2000 162
marriage to Graham 153
Barclay, Patrick 28–29
Barkey, Greg 317, 323–324
Barratt, Keren 267
Barrie, Tony 154
Barry, Neale 228, 234, 316
Barthez, Fabian 165
Barwick, Brian 30–31, 325
Batistuta, Gabriel 194
Beasley, Rob 63–64
Beckenbauer, Franz 283
Beckham, David
Euro 2004 242, 244
giving shirt to Collina 229
giving shirt to Gemma 5
outstanding player 73
sent off in World Cup 6
support for Poll 3, 5–6, 10, 36, 325
World Cup 2002 216
World Cup 2006 319
Bellamy, Craig 256
Bennett, Steve
abused by Warnock 144–145
avoiding reading press
coverage 171
refereeing style 95
referees’ group meetings 182
selection of referees for World
Cup 2006 243–244
support for Poll 242
UEFA Cup Final 2005 265
Berbatov, Dimitar 15
Berezutsky, Alexei 265
Bergkamp, Dennis 261
Bevington, Adrian 82
Bingham, Jeremy 362
Blackwell, Kevin 145–147
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
Euro 2004 132, 244
FA Cup semi-final 2003 141
Cann, Darren
Poll’s final match 69
Sevilla v Osasuna 2007 50
Cannavaro, Fabio 229
Carlos, Roberto 230
Carrick, Michael 233–234
Carvalho, Daniel 265
Carver, John 145–146
Cech, Petr 248–249
Chaplin, Paul 130
Chelsea FC
allegations against Poll 17–20, 23–24, 34–35
Arsenal v Chelsea 2004 248–249
Chelsea v Aston Villa 2006 10
Chelsea v Manchester United 2007 55–62
FA Cup Final 2000 80, 87
Laws of the Game 247–248
Mourinho’s verbal assault on
Poll 59–64
Poll alleged to be supporter 80–83, 87–88, 90
Tottenham v Chelsea 2006 10–11, 13–21
Chimbonda, Pascal 15
Clarke, Steve 61–62
Clattenburg, Mark 62
Cleese, John 302
Coffill, Laura 297
Coffill, Steve 99
Cole, Ashley
allegations against Poll 18–20, 23, 27, 34–36
Arsenal v Manchester United 2005 260
injury 42
Tottenham v Chelsea 2006 14, 16
Cole, Joe 57
Collina, Pierluigi
advising Poll 258
Euro 2000 162
officials’ briefings 93–94
outstanding referee 93–94
public speaking 48–49
refereeing in South America 199
refereeing style 95
RefTalk website 154
retirement from refereeing 274
shirt collection 229, 231
World Cup 2002 209, 211, 214–215, 223
Collins, Patrick 139
Conn, Tina 325, 361
Conn, Tony 50, 162, 361
Cooper, Keith 121
Cornu, Yvan 48, 240–241
Corradi, Bernardo 40
Cotterill, Steve 7
Courtney, George
‘Eve of the Final Rally’ 85
refereeing at World Cups 277
Coward, Nic 155
Craig, Adam 326–327
Crompton, Alan 76–77, 362
Crouch, Peter 289, 299
Cumming, George 211, 220–221, 226
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
Davies, Christopher 209, 313
Dawson, Michael 14
Dean, Mike
criticized by Poll 183
Holland v Australia friendly 289
Poll’s final match 69–70, 72
referees’ group meetings 181–182
Sevilla v Osasuna 2007 50, 53–55
support for Poll 242
Dein, David 256–257
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, 181–182
RefTalk website 155
support for Poll 184
Worthington Cup Final 2002 127
Dowd, Phil 181–182
Dowie, Iain 232
Downes, Wally 147
Drogba, Didier
disallowed goal incident 14, 17–18
sent off by Frisk 250
support for Poll 42
Drury, Peter 8, 49–50
Drysdale, Darren 86
Dunn, Steve
FA Cup Final 2001 180, 256
Red Wine Club 181–182
refereeing style 95
referees’ group meetings 181
retirement from refereeing 271
support for Poll 242
Durkin, Paul
not selected for Euro 2000 160
Red Wine Club 181–182
refereeing style 95
retirement from refereeing 271
sense of humour 179–181
support for Poll 242
World Cup 1998 167, 221–222
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
Eagles, Chris 57–58
Earle, Robbie 8–9
East, Roger 50
El-Ghandour, Gamal 162
Elizondo, Horacio Marcelo 293, 317
Elleray, David 95
Elliott, John 82
Elliott, Matt 204
Emerton, Brett 310
Euro Championships
2000 160–167
2004 242–245
Fabiano, Luis 52
Farina, Stefano 18, 28
Ferdinand, Les 115–116
Ferdinand, Rio 253
Ferguson, Sir Alex
aggression towards referees 59
Arsenal v Manchester United2005 251–252, 258–261
Chelsea v Manchester United2007 57–59
Poll’s back injury 277
rivalry with Wenger 247
Rooney swearing incident 117
views on referees 252–253
Fifield, Dominic 26–27
Figo, Luis
Roma v Real Madrid 2001 194
giving shirt to Poll 229
Flintoff, Andrew (Freddie) 294
Foley, Eddie 162, 165–166
Football Association
condemnation of Terry 35
inquiry into Terry incident
21, 23–24, 33–35
lack of support for Poll 19–20, 23–24, 26, 30–31, 39
lack of support for referees 331
Poll alleged to be Chelsea
supporter 82
referees abused by managers 59–61, 63–64, 143–147
referees turning profession 156–157
RefTalk website 154–155
Foster, Mike 155
Fratellia, Pascal 250
Frisk, Anders
criticized by Mourinho 250
death threats to family 132, 250
Euro 2000 162
outstanding referee 94–95
RefTalk website 154
retirement from refereeing 250–251
support for Poll 250–251
threatened by fans 132
Gallagher, Dermot 26
Gerrard, Steven
foul incident 228–229
two-footed tackles 241
Ghaly, Hossam 15, 20
Gibson, Nathan 317
Giggs, Ryan
Arsenal v Manchester United 2005 261
goal for Julia 128
Poll’s back injury 277
Goggins, John 120
Gonville Rovers 81–82, 96
Gray, Andy
criticism of Poll 57
Isthmian League 115–116
Laws of the Game 136
Green, Tony 199–200
Gregory, John
accusing Poll of being Chelsea
supporter 90–91
advice to Poll 88–89, 136, 185
Aston Villa supporter 201
FA Cup Final 2000 88, 90
support for Poll 83
Groves, Ron 267
Gudjohnsen, Eidur 249
Guest, Joe
FA Cup Final 2000 84, 86, 88
FA Cup semi-final 2003 142
Gerrard incident 228
Poll drinking incident 268
pre-season training session 267
RefTalk website 155
support for Poll 184
Hackett, Keith
confidence in Poll 68
managers swearing at referees 64
natural referee 95
Poll drinking incident 268–269
Poll’s alleged car sponsorship 25–26
Poll’s refereeing style 107–108
popularity versus respect 185
support for Poll 184, 362
three yellow cards incident 316
Halsey, Mark 196
Hamann, Didi 254–255
Hansen, Alan 136
Harmison, Steve 294
Hasselbaink, Jimmy-Floyd 250
Hayward, Paul 362
Heard, Peter 270
Hedges, Dennis 204–205, 207
Heinze, Gabriel 260
Hellman, Martin 101
Hendon Hall Hotel 68, 86
Henry, Thierry
Arsenal v Chelsea 2004 248–250
Arsenal v Manchester United 2004 257
Arsenal v Newcastle 2001 256
Euro 2000 164
Herren, Andreas 317
Hilario 15