Refwatch Preview: Notts County (a)
All roads are leading to Nottingham this weekend, as Dale take on Nottm County in a match vital for both sides. We kick start out build up with a look at referee Ray Lee from Essex.
Dale will meet Ray Lee for the second time this term when he
takes charge of Saturday’s game Notts
County.
The Essex official was in
the middle at Peterborough
on the opening day of the season when we were well beaten 3-0 by a team who
look certain to gain promotion.
Ray also refereed a Dale match early last season and it is
one that was certainly quite eventful.
The game in question was at Swindon
where Dale went down to a narrow 1-0 defeat, thanks to Alan Goodall’s needless
own goal.
However, Mr Lee awarded Swindon
two penalties in the second half, yet Matthew Gilks managed to save them both!
Ray is in his second full season as a league referee,
although he did take charge of a few matches at this level in 2005/06 when he
was still on the Conference list.
He hasn’t attracted too many headlines during his two
seasons among the ‘big boys’, but one interesting fact is that despite being
called Ray, his first name, as you might expect, is not Raymond! He is actually
called Rayford Lee!
Now, how many Rayfords do you know?
Some famous Rays
Sting
Ray Wilkins
Ray Winstone
Ray Parlour
Billy Ray Cyrus
Some famous Lees
General Lee
Lee Buggie
Chris Lee
Bitter
Lee & Lance
What to read next:
Brave Swans in memorable game at Carrow Road It was a pulsating game to watch and very much one of my favourite away games of the season. The Swans looked an entirely different side to that we saw at Middlesbrough when it is clear a catalyst for commitment was agreed behind the scenes at Swansea City. To a man every player grafted and
wore the shirt with pride. To see the players really acknowledge the Swans support at Carrow Road this afternoon was emotional.
Swansea reject Cullen contract and trigger one year option Liam Cullen has had his request for a new contract dismissed by Swansea City after discussions broke down last week. The lowest paid ‘senior’ player at the club ( he is twenty five) asked for a better contract increasing his £3,500 a week to around £7,000 a week over three years.
Sam Parker hasn’t turned down a new deal, he is willing to negotiate He was a revelation for the Swans for the few games he played this season, and now it emerges Sam Parker has ‘turned down’ a new Swansea City contract. News is thin on the ground, and some of it just incorrect as he looks to involve his representatives in some further negotiations. Plus his current contract runs for two more years.
Swansea City : The vision is clearer, so Jamal Lowe ? There were some worrying moments for the Swans yesterday, on three occasions mistakes from playing out from the back nearly saw the home side score. And is there now a case for Jamal Lowe to be offered a contract at Swansea ?
Leighton James : His own football revolution With the passing of Leighton James yesterday we have a Saturday night treat for football fans, Swans fans and Wales followers the world over. Who can recall the magic boots imposing themselves on clubs throughout Wales and England ?