Meet The Ref - QPR v Latics

Latics travel down to Loftus Road on Saturday to face bottom of the Championship side QPR, the referee charged with ensuring that all is fair on the field of play is none other than Steve Martin, no not the Hollywood superstar, the other one from Stafford!

Martin is in his sixth season as a Football League referee, his first season was quite a calm one, in 27 games he issued just 54 yellows and the one red card without any major issues to report.













The apparently mild mannered official had just one Latics game last campaign, our 1-1 draw away at Bristol Rovers back in April, he didn’t book any players from either though that day.

Here’s hoping that this particular Steve Martin doesn’t act like ‘The Man With Two Brains’, isn’t a ‘Dirty Rotten Scoundrel’ or ‘The Jerk’ but does look back fondly at ‘The Three Amigos’.

That’s enough of that!

Steve Martin Card Watch 2018/19 
Games - 3
Yellows – 3
Reds – 0

Queens Park Rangers v Wigan Athletic 
Referee - Steve Martin
Assistants - Andy Fox and Ian Cooper
Fourth Official - James Linington

Meet The Ref - Latics v Forest

Latics take on Nottingham Forest this Saturday at the DW Stadium, the man in charge of proceedings is 36 year old Sunderland referee, Geoff Eltringham.

Eltringham has refereed a Latics v Forest game before, he took charge of our 2nd round Capital One Cup tie at the City Ground back in 2012/13 season.


Last season he only officiated one game which we were involved in, the 2-2 draw away at Blackburn.

Getting To Know You
Below is an interview with Geoff Eltringham by the Sunderland Referees Association, giving us a little insight into Saturdays whistle blower:

How where you introduced into refereeing?
After finishing playing school football, I didn’t think I would be good enough to make the step up and play at a decent standard, so I therefore chose to go down the refereeing route. I took my course at Ryhope Cricket Club under the leadership of Dave Binsley.

What has been the highlight of your career so far and why?
Lots of highlights such as officiating at Wembley, but promotion to the national list of referees was my overall highlight.

A target of mine when I first started refereeing was to be involved in Football League Football to some degree, so when I achieved it, it was very special.

I believe it is the low points that happen during your career, and how you deal and overcome them showing strength of character that ultimately makes you a stronger and better referee. Every referee will encounter low points from time to time.

What is the biggest game you have officiated and why?
My biggest game to date would be refereeing Nottingham Forest v Leicester City 2011/12, it was FA Cup 3rd round which gave the game a special feel. The game finished 0-0 with no major talking points which I was happy with.

What are your aims and ambitions as a referee?
My aim is to firstly retain my position then establish myself on the National List, which I feel after 3 seasons I’m starting to achieve.
My main ambition now is to referee at the highest level which would be the Premier League.

What/Who has been the biggest influence on your career and why?
Lots of people have had a big influence on my career, Malcolm Langley offered me the best piece of advice to ditch my beloved Sunderland season ticket, gutted at the time but I think it was the right choice!! At grassroots level I had good mentors in Ron Bates and Dick Madden. I have also worked with some great coaches on my way up the refereeing ladder including Phil Prosser, Matt Mattias and Alan Kaye, I’m currently working with Alan Wiley and Gary Willard who have been a great help with my development.

In your opinion who is/was the best referee?The best I’ve worked with are both current in Michael Oliver & Mark Clattenburg, but the referee who I used to look out for and admire was Paul Durkin, I thought he was a class act, maybe because we are similar heights!!!!
Interesting stuff

Geoff Eltringham Card Watch 2018/19

Games – 2

Yellows – 6

Reds – 0

Wigan Athletic v Nottingham Forest

Referee - GEOFF ELTRINGHAM
Assistants - Billy Smallwood and Matt Foley
Fourth Official - Thomas Bramall

Meet The Ref - Rotherham v Latics - Carabao Cup 1st Round

Latics travel over the Pennines on Tuesday to the New York Stadium where we will face Rotherham United in the Carabao Cup 1st round.

In charge of this game and traveling over the big hill with us is 36 year old, scouser Peter Bankes.

The Liverpool based official began refereeing in 1996, aged 14 whilst he was a pupil at Bootle High School, he was subsequently appointed to the Football League Referees List in 2014, prior to which he spent two years as a Select Group Assistant Referee.

During his time as an assistant ref (lino) our paths crossed in the most auspicious of circumstances, Bankes ran the line of our FA Cup Semi Final against Millwall in April 2013.

As a whistle blower he refereed the National League Promotion Final at Wembley in 2014. In his 2 seasons on the referees list he has refereed two Play-Off Final Semi Finals and was the Fourth Official on the FA Vase Final at Wembley in May 2016.

Bankesy is a former Accounts Manager.

At the tender age of 34 and with just two years experience of being the man in the middle Bankes was promoted to the Select Group 2 professional referees body, he must be regarded in high places, but so was Stuart Atwell, hopefully he will give a restrained performance on Tuesday, we don’t want the Millers using the referee as an excuse when we beat them.

In the interests of fairness I will leave a final word on Peter Bankes from ex Premier League referee and Middlesbrough fan Jeff Winter, following a Boro v Fulham game recently – ”For me, one of the league’s most promising young referees, Peter Bankes did nothing to harm his emerging reputation. 

"His second visit to the Riverside showed him in total control throughout and his positioning meant he was always close to the action.” 

Peter Bankes Card Watch 2017/18

Games – 42
Yellows – 156
Reds – 8

This Weeks PWU Latics Podcast Is Now Available

The second podcast of the new season is now out, we are absolutely buzzing following what was a great game at the weekend, a five goal thriller, if the season carries on in this vein I for one will be delighted.

Why not grab a listen, gives us some feedback and if you want, add comments at the bottom of this article .

Great way to start the new season.

We recap a fantastic game of football against Sheffield Wednesday, five goals, loads of goal mouth action and a red card to boot.

The transfer window is getting ready to shut, we have the latest rumours.

Listeners Q&A.

Villa preview with Villa fan Jules Keane, 'ref watch' and tics predicts.

Rotherham in the Caraboa cup on Tuesday, a quick preview and a discussion about the importance of this particular competition.

Once again thanks for your support

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