Welcome back to Mark Halsey

Mark Halsey

Determined

Both teams think that the man in the middle is biased towards the opposition, both managers think that the man in the middle is determined to lose them their job and all fans everywhere think the man in the middle is at best, short-sighted and at worse, incompetent.

That is just how it is for the refs I’m afraid. Don’t feel too sorry for them, nobody made them do it!

I just wanted to get that off my chest before I pass on a really good news story about one of the top refs in English football.

Battle

Last night Mark Halsey refereed his first game since overcoming the latest stage of his on going battle against cancer. Forty-eight year old Halsey, who comes from Bolton, officiated in a reserve team game between Leicester and Scunthorpe.

It was a very minor game but a significant moment for the man that many feel is one of the best in his trade.

Halsey, who was diagnosed with having throat cancer on the day before the season started, said,

“When I found out I had cancer, I did not think I would be back refereeing. I thought that was it. I thought my career was over, but here I am. The chemotherapy hit me hard, it really did. I was quite ill. My throat was very sore but it is just getting back to normal. I’ve got no taste, though, but hopefully that will come back in time. I want to show people who suffer from cancer we can all beat this disease. It’s for them. That’s why I want to get back on the pitch.”

He has now been given the all-clear to return to the game after he surprised everyone, including himself, by passing the very demanding referee fitness test.

Training

He has been training with Bolton FC in order to get back his fitness and sharpness and it has obviously paid dividends for him. He has to work incredibly hard at a time when, unbelievably, his wife Michelle has been receiving treatment for leukaemia.

Mark Halsey has been a football league referee since the mid-nineties and a Premier League referee since 1999. He was added to the FIFA list of referees a year later.

His biggest match in charge was the Football League Cup Final in 2008 when Tottenham beat Chelsea 2-1.

Ambition

His ambition on his return to the game is to referee an FA Cup Final. He was the fourth official at that game back in 2002 when Arsenal beat Chelsea 2-0, but now he would love to take centre stage.

It is fantastic to see Mark Halsey back and I hope he continues to make a full recovery and fulfil his ambition.

Having said all that, I’m sure it won’t stop managers, players, fans, or me, from having a go at him when he gets it wrong! As I’ve said, that’s the life of a referee.