Top Ref for FC Game

Source: Radcliffe Borough FC website:

The 'Boro are scheduled to have one of the premierships top referee's officiating one of their pre-season fixtures. Mark Halsey from Bolton has agreed with the club he will referee the July

15th friendly with FC United depending on him having no professional engagements given him in the period leading up to the game. Halsey is one of the most respected referees in the premiership and last season officiated in 21 premiership games showing 37 yellow cards and 5 red cards.

He is a regular at Stainton Park when he has no official games and has
kept up with the 'Boro' results towards the back end of the season. Secretary Dave Murgatroyd said: "Mark has been on a number of occasions to the club when he has not had a game and has kept up with our results in last season's relegation fight, which is brilliant for a top referee not to lose or abandon his links in the lower regions of the game.

"We asked him if he would like to officiate in a couple of the pre-season games and we were delighted when he said he would. "It will help Mark with his fitness and give us the opportunity to see one of the country's top referees live at the Inn2Gether stadium."

Referee Halsey who has been on a number of occasions to the Inn2Gether Stadium, has become one of the most respected referees in the country and his manner and knowledge of the game has made him a favourite with the players and managers of the Premiership clubs in relation to referring their games.

He first began officiating in 1989 and became a premiership referee some 10 years later in 1999, the following year he became a FIFA referee. Halsey has refereed in many high profile games including the 1998 Play Off Final Manchester City v Gillingham - 2002 FA Cup Final 4th Official Arsenal v Chelsea - 2002 FIFA World Disabled Championships - Referee 2000 Toulon Under-21 tournament - 2001 World Student games in Beijing and finally 2004 Belgium v France - His First Full International.


with thanks to Radcliffe Borough for this article