Manchester Utd v Millwall
The FA Cup Final
Millennium Stadium
22 May 2004


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What did you feel when you’d been selected?

Pride. The FA Cup Final is everyone’s dream. I’m joining a very select band of officials and, with it being my last season it makes it even more special. There was an element of surprise too, but I was so delighted at getting the appointment.

Cup Final refs are chosen based on their performances during the season. You must have had a good one?

Over the past few seasons I have felt that I’ve been fairly consistent, but this one has gone exceptionally well. I put some of that down to the fact that I’m very experienced now. I’m a lot more relaxed and confident.

If you’re going so well, you must wish you could carry on?

From a selfish point of view, I’d like to continue refereeing. In the short term it would mean that we would retain the experienced referees for a little bit longer, but it would also mean that younger referees may not get the chance.

I personally think we should get younger referees through the system and they can get the experience earlier.

That would benefit, not only domestic football, but our standing in European and world football.

How emotional will it be to walk out at the Millennium?

I have been fortunate enough to be involved in The FA Cup Final earlier on in my career, but today will be a very, very special day. When it kicks-off though, it will be just another game.

I’ll try and block out all the emotions surrounding the match and hope that it passes off without any incident.

As officials, our game-plan for the day will be to control the match with a minimum of fuss to ensure that it is remembered as a great spectacle of football.

Your last Cup Final was as fourth official for Liverpool and Everton in 1989 wasn’t it?

That’s right, it seems a long, long time ago now. I can’t remember too much actually apart from the heat that day – it was absolutely boiling

In those days I was an assistant referee hoping that I would become a referee. Here we are, 15 years later, and I’m at The Final again, this time in the middle.

You must have refereed some great players in that time. Who’s been the best?

One of my favourite players was Gianfranco Zola. Apart from being an excellent footballer he was a complete gentleman and never gave me a moment of problem. He was a pleasure to referee and watch.

Have you ever been tempted to get involved in a game when the ball has come near you?

I have found myself on occasions in a better position to shoot than the players, but maybe I should save that for one of my last games. Scoring the winning goal in The Cup Final is the dream of every youngster after all!

When you come off the National List at the end of the season what will your plans be?

I have a number of possibilities, I’m doing a bit of after-dinner speaking and have other options, but I’m going to enjoy the end of the season and then move on to a new chapter in my life.

Will there be mixed emotions when you blow that final whistle?

On one hand I can’t wait for the game to start, but on the other I don’t want The Final to pass me by.

The advice I’ve been given in the past, and I’ve offered others, is to enjoy every single minute because, though 90 minutes is a long time in football, it will go by in a flash and I don’t want to take any moment for granted.

If you’d like to know more about refereeing visit: TheFA.com/Refereeing