RUFC - Ref Watch v Torquay

Trevor Kettle from Rutland




Rotherham United and Trevor Kettle have a bit of history - our last game at Oakwell, back in 2005, was one that most Millers fans will never forget. It was one of the most inept displays of refereeing I've ever seen (and I've seen some lately!). It started well for the Millers and Shaun Barker put them in the lead just after the half-hour mark. On fifty-six minutes Deon Burton received a second yellow card after he was brought down by Steve Watt (I kid you not!) and ten minutes before the end Lee Williamson also saw red, for what, no one really knows, leaving the Millers down to nine men. Mick Harford was sent from the dugout by Mr Kettle and, in the fourth minute of three added on, Barnsley's Steve Watt got an equaliser, though whether the ball actually crossed the line is still debatable. Skipper, Colin Murdock went to have words with the referee at the final whistle and he too was shown a red card. Even the Barnsley players and fans were bemused by what was going on.

Trevor Kettle has been in charge for Millers games since then, the last time was earlier this season at Shrewsbury when the home side won one-nil with a Lionel Ainsworth goal in the first five minutes.

This season, Mr Kettle has shown seventy-five yellows and eight red cards in the twenty-one games he has been in the middle for - two of the reds were on Saturday when he sent off two Stockport players.


The flag carriers will be ….
SC Knapp from Bristol
A Rodda from Devon

The Fourth Official will be …
L Swabey from Devon