Finishing refereeing

[Jonzy54]

Sometimes you know enough is enough .After 49 years and 2240 games I decided to step away from Refereeing last summer .I have to admit my enthusiasm waned somewhat after my wife’s illness. Yes I miss the good times which includes the people of which there were many and admittedly many who were ********s .
I was lucky to referee on 31 PL/ EFL grounds and even refereed in a tournament in Norway.I was lucky enough to Referee as 4th Official at EFL games and Referee at ,Conference (National League),MidlandsFootball Alliance ,West Midlands League ,Central League ,Staffordshire Senior League,Staffordshire County League,Wolverhampton Amateur and Works Leagues,Wolverhampton Sunday League ,Wolverhampton Municipal League,The Midland Intermediate League where I refereed the Cup Final twice including Cloughie’s last ever game at Forest in front of 23 ,000 where he gave me a kiss.I also refereed in the FA Cup where I actually played a game ,FA Youth Cup ,FA Trophy (Where I refereed the QF between Welling and Woking ,,The FA Vase,The FA Youth Cup and many other memories.
I received fantastic retirement letters from both the FA and Staffordshire FA..I haven’t posted this to receive plaudits but merely to reminisce as I cast my mind back to my first ever game in 1972 as a 17 year old callow youth at Dunstall Park
I think I have done my bit

 

[old wittonian]

Sometimes you know enough is enough .After 49 years and 2240 games I decided to step away from Refereeing last summer .I have to admit my enthusiasm waned somewhat after my wife’s illness. Yes I miss the good times which includes the people of which there were many and admittedly many who were ********s .
I was lucky to referee on 31 PL/ EFL grounds and even refereed in a tournament in Norway.I was lucky enough to Referee as 4th Official at EFL games and Referee at ,Conference (National League),Midland Football Alliance .Staffordshire Senior League,Staffordshire County League,Wolverhampton Amateur and Works Leagues,Wolverhampton Sunday League ,Wolverhampton Municipal League,The Midland Intermediate League where I refereed the Cup Final twice including Cloughie’s last ever game at Forest in front of 23 ,000 where he gave me a kiss.I also refereed in the FA Cup where I actually played a game ,FA Youth Cup ,FA Trophy (Where I refereed the QF between Welling and Woking ,FA Trophy,The FA Vase,The FA Youth Cup and many other memories.
I received fantastic retirement letters from both the FA and Staffordshire FA..I haven’t posted this to receive plaudits but merely to reminisce as I cast my mind back to my first ever game in 1972 as a 17 year old callow youth at Dunstall Park
I think I have done my bit

You most be fit but bloody tired. Have a good retirement.

 

[HowfenWolf]

No VAR check?

 

[Jonzy54]

You most be fit but bloody tired. Have a good retirement.

Not as fit as I was but when your enthusiasm wanes it affects your fitness.Taking the rough with the smooth ,including being assaulted and knocked out I have enjoyed it immensely
Thanks for your kind words

 

[Supadavewolf]

including being assaulted and knocked

Aaah, simple pleasures of kicking a ball around!

Enjoy your retirement, Jonzy, which should give you enough energy to moan about the Wolves (just like the rest of us).

 

[Jonzy54]

Aaah, simple pleasures of kicking a ball around!

Enjoy your retirement, Jonzy, which should give you enough energy to moan about the Wolves (just like the rest of us).

Thanks
I will never run out of breath to do that

 

[Jack Russell]

A simply excellent contribution to our great game Jonzy! You should rightly feel proud of the time, effort and dedication you have put in.

Congratulations and thanks and enjoy your retirement!

 

[Zico]

You don't know what you're doing!

 

[derbyrameater]

Well done on your career.

is there a modern ref (someone we will have seen) you would compare yourself with or others have commented you are like so and so ?

 

[Northbank cigarette]

What advice would you give to young refs Jonzy who are just setting off on their ref journey? Even young refs have to put up with a barrage of inappropriate abuse at grassroots.

 

[wulfie88]

Sometimes you know enough is enough .After 49 years and 2240 games I decided to step away from Refereeing last summer .I have to admit my enthusiasm waned somewhat after my wife’s illness. Yes I miss the good times which includes the people of which there were many and admittedly many who were ********s .
I was lucky to referee on 31 PL/ EFL grounds and even refereed in a tournament in Norway.I was lucky enough to Referee as 4th Official at EFL games and Referee at ,Conference (National League),Midland Football Alliance .Staffordshire Senior League,Staffordshire County League,Wolverhampton Amateur and Works Leagues,Wolverhampton Sunday League ,Wolverhampton Municipal League,The Midland Intermediate League where I refereed the Cup Final twice including Cloughie’s last ever game at Forest in front of 23 ,000 where he gave me a kiss.I also refereed in the FA Cup where I actually played a game ,FA Youth Cup ,FA Trophy (Where I refereed the QF between Welling and Woking ,FA Trophy,The FA Vase,The FA Youth Cup and many other memories.
I received fantastic retirement letters from both the FA and Staffordshire FA..I haven’t posted this to receive plaudits but merely to reminisce as I cast my mind back to my first ever game in 1972 as a 17 year old callow youth at Dunstall Park
I think I have done my bit

Well done , John. A great record. You've certainly earned retirement. I remember playing as a teenager on Dunstall Park with Andrew. I seem to recall heavy pitches and strong winds !

 

[glorybox]

Wow that is some list of achievements. As a dad with two boys playing youth football i know how difficult it is to attract young people to take up the whistle but certainly people like you stand as an inspiration to those that may be considering it.

 

[JOSWolf]

Enjoy your retirement Jonzy.

 

[Deleted member drgr12429]

Good job. Enjoy the retirement! No more listening to chants of " you don't know what you're doing"..

 

[Darvo]

Well done John ... I’ve always viewed refereeing as a thankless task. But without refs we’d have no game.

 

[Berlin Wolf]

What a wonderful and long stint as a referee. Happy retirement Jonzy.

 

[Sussex Wolf]

Well done Jonzy.

A long second career of armchair referee punditry awaits you on MolMix!

 

[Black Country Wanderer]

Youve certainly done your bit Jonzy,enjoy your retirement mate
Ive reffed at a lower level to your good self but i can tell anyone its a thankless and difficult job,all refs have my sympathy, even if some really get my back up at times lol

 

[Jonzy54]

Well done on your career.

is there a modern ref (someone we will have seen) you would compare yourself with or others have commented you are like so and so ?

When I started because I was so young and refereeing adults much older than me I could be quite officious .As I matured I opened up more and whilst never liking disrespect I have always tried to show respect in return .Hard to say about the current crop but I always rated and respected Collina and modelled myself on Roger Milford and even had a perm back in the day when they were fashionable

 

[Jonzy54]

What advice would you give to young refs Jonzy who are just setting off on their ref journey? Even young refs have to put up with a barrage of inappropriate abuse at grassroots.

Show confidence ,positivity and decisiveness.Know the laws and try to referee with a smile on your face

 

[Jonzy54]

Well done , John. A great record. You've certainly earned retirement. I remember playing as a teenager on Dunstall Park with Andrew. I seem to recall heavy pitches and strong winds !

Sadly all gone now

 

[Jonzy54]

Good job. Enjoy the retirement! No more listening to chants of " you don't know what you're doing"..

My wife says it every day

 

[AndyY]

Well done Jonzy, I really don’t know why anyone does it, but the game can’t take place without people like you.
Thanks.

 

[Deleted member 8455jwf]

Well done mate! Never reffed but hard job, especially lower levels where a small % of mouth-breathers who don't know the laws are waiting for a chance to get physical.

 

[derbyrameater]

When I started because I was so young and refereeing adults much older than me I could be quite officious .As I matured I opened up more and whilst never liking disrespect I have always tried to show respect in return .Hard to say about the current crop but I always rated and respected Collina and modelled myself on Roger Milford and even had a perm back in the day when they were fashionable

thanks

 

[Beeches wolf]

Well earned retirement. You must have been very dedicated. Well done.
Time to chill.

 

[Deleted member 7862Bler]

Enjoy your retirement.
Any idea who ref for Sunday is yet?
Will we get Mike Dean in his last premier league game?

 

[VancouverWolf]

Sometimes you know enough is enough .After 49 years and 2240 games I decided to step away from Refereeing last summer .I have to admit my enthusiasm waned somewhat after my wife’s illness. Yes I miss the good times which includes the people of which there were many and admittedly many who were ********s .
I was lucky to referee on 31 PL/ EFL grounds and even refereed in a tournament in Norway.I was lucky enough to Referee as 4th Official at EFL games and Referee at ,Conference (National League),MidlandsFootball Alliance ,West Midlands League ,Central League ,Staffordshire Senior League,Staffordshire County League,Wolverhampton Amateur and Works Leagues,Wolverhampton Sunday League ,Wolverhampton Municipal League,The Midland Intermediate League where I refereed the Cup Final twice including Cloughie’s last ever game at Forest in front of 23 ,000 where he gave me a kiss.I also refereed in the FA Cup where I actually played a game ,FA Youth Cup ,FA Trophy (Where I refereed the QF between Welling and Woking ,FA Trophy,The FA Vase,The FA Youth Cup and many other memories.
I received fantastic retirement letters from both the FA and Staffordshire FA..I haven’t posted this to receive plaudits but merely to reminisce as I cast my mind back to my first ever game in 1972 as a 17 year old callow youth at Dunstall Park
I think I have done my bit

Wow…..that’s a great long and commendable list of your reffing. Hats off to you and now sit back and enjoy the game on a different level.

 

[whitnash wolf ex.dewsbury]

Did you ever ref.at the old Windmill ground in Leamington.
If so I may have seen you if Wolves weren`t playing

 

[Jonzy54]

Enjoy your retirement.
Any idea who ref for Sunday is yet?
Will we get Mike Dean in his last premier league game?

Not announced yet
My money would be on Taylor with Oliver doing the City game

 

[Jonzy54]

Did you ever ref.at the old Windmill ground in Leamington.
If so I may have seen you if Wolves weren`t playing

Yes I did

 

[old wittonian]

Sometimes you know enough is enough .After 49 years and 2240 games I decided to step away from Refereeing last summer .I have to admit my enthusiasm waned somewhat after my wife’s illness. Yes I miss the good times which includes the people of which there were many and admittedly many who were ********s .
I was lucky to referee on 31 PL/ EFL grounds and even refereed in a tournament in Norway.I was lucky enough to Referee as 4th Official at EFL games and Referee at ,Conference (National League),MidlandsFootball Alliance ,West Midlands League ,Central League ,Staffordshire Senior League,Staffordshire County League,Wolverhampton Amateur and Works Leagues,Wolverhampton Sunday League ,Wolverhampton Municipal League,The Midland Intermediate League where I refereed the Cup Final twice including Cloughie’s last ever game at Forest in front of 23 ,000 where he gave me a kiss.I also refereed in the FA Cup where I actually played a game ,FA Youth Cup ,FA Trophy (Where I refereed the QF between Welling and Woking ,,The FA Vase,The FA Youth Cup and many other memories.
I received fantastic retirement letters from both the FA and Staffordshire FA..I haven’t posted this to receive plaudits but merely to reminisce as I cast my mind back to my first ever game in 1972 as a 17 year old callow youth at Dunstall Park
I think I have done my bit

Have they offered you a job at Stockley Park on VAR ?

 

[SA Wolf]

You will almost certainly have reffed me in the Wolvo Sunday League, Municipal League etc.., so I need to apologise, now . Well done on your long career.

 

[JadeWolf]

Well played on your career Jonzy! Enjoy your retirement!

 

[Contrarian]

Wow, that's some list! Any chance you could replace Peter Walton now?

 

[shaygriff]

When was you in Norway? Was it for Norway Cup?

 

[Jonzy54]

Have they offered you a job at Stockley Park on VAR ?

I was too educated to be considered

 

[Jonzy54]

When was you in Norway? Was it for Norway Cup?

Yes it was

 

[HICKO]

Very impressive “career “
Thats probably one of the longest refereeing stints!
Enjoy your retirement.
Keep your whistle wet………….you never know

 

[YouGottaRaulWithIt]

Sometimes you know enough is enough .After 49 years and 2240 games I decided to step away from Refereeing last summer .I have to admit my enthusiasm waned somewhat after my wife’s illness. Yes I miss the good times which includes the people of which there were many and admittedly many who were ********s .
I was lucky to referee on 31 PL/ EFL grounds and even refereed in a tournament in Norway.I was lucky enough to Referee as 4th Official at EFL games and Referee at ,Conference (National League),MidlandsFootball Alliance ,West Midlands League ,Central League ,Staffordshire Senior League,Staffordshire County League,Wolverhampton Amateur and Works Leagues,Wolverhampton Sunday League ,Wolverhampton Municipal League,The Midland Intermediate League where I refereed the Cup Final twice including Cloughie’s last ever game at Forest in front of 23 ,000 where he gave me a kiss.I also refereed in the FA Cup where I actually played a game ,FA Youth Cup ,FA Trophy (Where I refereed the QF between Welling and Woking ,,The FA Vase,The FA Youth Cup and many other memories.
I received fantastic retirement letters from both the FA and Staffordshire FA..I haven’t posted this to receive plaudits but merely to reminisce as I cast my mind back to my first ever game in 1972 as a 17 year old callow youth at Dunstall Park
I think I have done my bit

Retiring is never easy, especially if it's something you really love doing. I hope you have a long, happy and healthy retirement mate.

Still, you can get those new glasses now, and trace your real father.

Only kidding.