In my spare time, I am a massive fan of Northern Kitchen-Sink dramas.
I must have them all, "This Sporting Life", "A Kind of Loving", "Billy Liar", "A taste of honey", "Saturday night, Sunday morning" - all gritty stories of the North (well the last one being Nottingham) in black and white. Id sort of place another favourite "Kes" in there, even though it is in colour.
"Kes" is the fable of wee Billy "No Mates" Casper, a low achiever school leaver who compensates for lack of human affection in Barnsley by training a Kestrel. One of the most funniest scenes is the games lesson where the Games Master, the late Brian Glover takes a football lesson and assumes the role of the Manchester United centre-forward and referee.
Fast forward to 2011 and this has got me thinking, would it not be unreasonable for Sir Alex Ferguson to pick his own referrees.
Fergie has been whining again, this time Mike Dean is in his sights. Apparently this is the fourth time he has spoken out about how bad the ref is. Now we Leeds fans are quick to criticise Fergie and yet we probably do it as often or more often than he does.
The referees are pretty rubbish anyway, so maybe Alex has a point and I urge the FA to let HIM pick his own ref because when it all goes tits-up then the blame lies solely with Fergie and not the FA.
I have even compiled a selection of potential referee's he could consider:
1- Sir Robert Charlton (Ashington, Tyne and Wear) a true gent and ambassador of the game. A vast knowledge and totally unbiased oif course.
2- Lou Macari (No Fixed Abode) - exotic sounding name for European Nights.
3- Callum Best (Viper Rooms, LA) - don't think this Yankcunian knows much about Soccer but definitely one for the ladies down at Old Trafford.
4- Martin Edwards (the Village Butchers Shop, Alderley Edge) could be difficult to try and force him out of retirement - maybe a couple of working girls and the key to the corporate ladies toilets may swing it?
5- Alan Green (BBC Radio Five Live), Fergie's favourite Radio Reporter will soon be relocating to Salford as part of the move north of the News and Sport station.