RUFC - Ref Watch v Shrewsbury

Trevor Kettle from Rutland

I think that all Millers` fans will raise eyebrows and groan when they hear that Trevor Kettle is the man in charge of our game at Shrewsbury on Saturday. Not being a Rotherham fans favourite let`s hope Mr Kettle is on his best behaviour!

It was in a game with Barnsley at Oakwell in 2005 that Mr Kettle first came to the notice of Millers and Reds fans when he handled the game that badly, then Manager, Mick Harford risked a long touchline ban by publicly saying that Mr Kettle should be struck off. The game ended one all but in the game, which Harford was banished to the stands, the Millers had three players sent off. Deon Burton was booked in the opening minutes, when the Barnsley fans alerted the referee to the fact that he`d left a foot in on Paul Reid - which was the only bad tackle of the game. By the end of the game, yellow cards had also been handed to Paul Evans, Colin Murdock, Lee Williamson, David Worrell of Rotherham and Jacob Burns, Marc Richards and Steven Watt of Barnsley. Shaun Barker put the Millers in front just after the half hour mark but were a player short on fifty-six minutes when Burton was sent off for 'diving`. Towards the end of the game the ground became slippy and Lee Williamson slipped on the ice, brought down Chris Suker and was given a second yellow. On the ninetieth minute, when it looked like the visitors would hang on, Steve Watt hit the ball towards goal, it seemed to hit Hayes on the arm and Cutler brought off a save on the line, only for the officials to give a goal. After much moaning and groaning by the Millers players the Mr Kettle blew the whistle to end the game which was too much for Colin Murdock who carried on his rant and was red carded after the whistle. After the game even Barnsley fans said how bemused they were by Mr Kettle`s actions during the day.

The last time Mr Kettle was in charge of a Millers game was at Crewe in 2009. Steve Schumacher put the home side in front on six minutes only for Kevin Ellison to equalise eight minutes later. Five minutes into the second half Calvin Zola restored the lead but up stepped Adam Le Fondre eight minutes later to score from the penalty spot. On eighty-five minutes the Millers fans were rewarded with a Drewe Broughton goal and all three points. Mr Kettle booked Nick Fenton and Ian Sharps of the Millers.

Trevor has been in charge of three games this season and has given out six yellow cards.

The flag carriers on Saturday will be

P Dermott from Cheshire
D Eaton from Gloucestershire

The Fourth Official will be

MA Astley from Manchester