What do you think?
Rate this book
The Man in the Middle: The Autobiography of the World Cup Final Referee
The autobiography of Howard Webb, the man who refereed the World Cup final and is now Chief Refereeing Officer for PGMOL and a television pundit.
Webb's first game as a match official came when he was just 18 and his father's verdict was 'Useless - he doesn't know his arse from his elbow.' It wasn't the last time his performance would come under fire. But Webb progressed through the ranks, and his natural calm authority made a good impression on players and administrators alike, and soon he was being offered the top matches and the toughest fixtures.
The policeman went on to take charge of some of the most important games, including the 2009 FA Cup final, the 2010 Champions League final and - the biggest of the lot - the 2010 World Cup final. Now, in this superb and frank memoir , Howard Webb reveals what it is like to be at the heart of the action in modern-day football where every decision can be unpicked by television cameras. He explains how he learned to handle some of the game's superstars. Refereeing is a hard business, but Webb shows just why he enjoyed it so much and provides fascinating insights into how he dealt with the most challenging situations.
With his unique perspective, and the characteristic honesty and humour he has displayed as a pundit on BT Sport, Webb has written a book, updated for this edition, that reveals the game - and the man himself - in a new light.
'Genuinely fascinating insight into the difficulties of officiating in the modern game, and Webb's frankness and self-deprecation are to be commended' When Saturday Comes
Webb's first game as a match official came when he was just 18 and his father's verdict was 'Useless - he doesn't know his arse from his elbow.' It wasn't the last time his performance would come under fire. But Webb progressed through the ranks, and his natural calm authority made a good impression on players and administrators alike, and soon he was being offered the top matches and the toughest fixtures.
The policeman went on to take charge of some of the most important games, including the 2009 FA Cup final, the 2010 Champions League final and - the biggest of the lot - the 2010 World Cup final. Now, in this superb and frank memoir , Howard Webb reveals what it is like to be at the heart of the action in modern-day football where every decision can be unpicked by television cameras. He explains how he learned to handle some of the game's superstars. Refereeing is a hard business, but Webb shows just why he enjoyed it so much and provides fascinating insights into how he dealt with the most challenging situations.
With his unique perspective, and the characteristic honesty and humour he has displayed as a pundit on BT Sport, Webb has written a book, updated for this edition, that reveals the game - and the man himself - in a new light.
'Genuinely fascinating insight into the difficulties of officiating in the modern game, and Webb's frankness and self-deprecation are to be commended' When Saturday Comes
305 pages, Paperback
Published August 24, 2017
31 people are currently reading
220 people want to read
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 25 of 25 reviews
December 19, 2022
In my thirties and early forties, I was a soccer referee, working my way up from kids games until I was head referee for a large AYSO organization and certified as a FIFA referee that got me doing many college games (always welcome because they paid a lot more and added travel expenses. This was around 1978-83. In today's dollars, around $500, pretty good for a young man raising a family. High school games were about a fifth of that.)
I played soccer in high school, was mediocre at best, but really got into refereeing. I loved it. This was at a time when we used the two-man system rather than a ref and two linesmen. It’s a system that I still think has some advantages, but requires much training and teamwork on the part of the two on-the-field officials. (Remember this was some 35 years ago. That system no longer exists.) I did in fact get FIFA certified, passed all the tests, etc., etc., but never had the chance to work the middle.
Some of my colleagues had far more presence of mind than I ever would. I remember Nels, a former Swedish ref who, after a kid kicked the ball high in the air following a call he disagreed with, just said, "If that ball comes down, you're out of the game." Or Howie, a ref I always enjoyed working with, who compassionately told a player who had just lost a front tooth after receiving a ball to the face, (we had located the tooth) to head off to the dentist. The player protested, but Howie just told him, in thirty years "you'll have forgotten this game, but if you don't get the tooth fixed, you have thirty years to regret it."
We had a very active association that scheduled all the refs and negotiated the fees. I was lucky that I had a job from which I could take off a couple afternoons a week to drive the considerable distances to the games.
Of course as a former ref, when I watch games now, I spend as much time watching the officials as the players. Some of them become celebrities in their own right, like Babiana Steinhaus, a first-rate woman official who was the first female ref to do the premier men’s German league games. She also, in real life, is a Police Chief Inspector. She retired from officiating in 2020, but I discovered she also married Howard Webb, a premier World Cup referee, also a policeman. Howard, as it happens, wrote this book about his career, the culmination of which was officiating at the World Cup final in 2014.
I was surprised to learn of all the technology required of and for referees at the Premier level. Each wore a heart rate monitor that would record every five seconds and then be uploaded to the league's headquarters, where fitness experts would pass judgement on the referee's fitness. Another was the laser device that would register when a goal was scored with an audible signal to the refs earphones.
I suspect unless you have some interest or background in soccer — it really should be called football all around the world; that other sport could be called pointy-ball or boring-ball — this book will probably not interest you. I really enjoyed it. The training program and learning experience of top-of-the-line referees is extensive, and that includes a great deal of analysis of mistakes. Webb is not afraid to discuss his blunders, and in soccer, the buck truly stops with the man in the middle.
I played soccer in high school, was mediocre at best, but really got into refereeing. I loved it. This was at a time when we used the two-man system rather than a ref and two linesmen. It’s a system that I still think has some advantages, but requires much training and teamwork on the part of the two on-the-field officials. (Remember this was some 35 years ago. That system no longer exists.) I did in fact get FIFA certified, passed all the tests, etc., etc., but never had the chance to work the middle.
Some of my colleagues had far more presence of mind than I ever would. I remember Nels, a former Swedish ref who, after a kid kicked the ball high in the air following a call he disagreed with, just said, "If that ball comes down, you're out of the game." Or Howie, a ref I always enjoyed working with, who compassionately told a player who had just lost a front tooth after receiving a ball to the face, (we had located the tooth) to head off to the dentist. The player protested, but Howie just told him, in thirty years "you'll have forgotten this game, but if you don't get the tooth fixed, you have thirty years to regret it."
We had a very active association that scheduled all the refs and negotiated the fees. I was lucky that I had a job from which I could take off a couple afternoons a week to drive the considerable distances to the games.
Of course as a former ref, when I watch games now, I spend as much time watching the officials as the players. Some of them become celebrities in their own right, like Babiana Steinhaus, a first-rate woman official who was the first female ref to do the premier men’s German league games. She also, in real life, is a Police Chief Inspector. She retired from officiating in 2020, but I discovered she also married Howard Webb, a premier World Cup referee, also a policeman. Howard, as it happens, wrote this book about his career, the culmination of which was officiating at the World Cup final in 2014.
I was surprised to learn of all the technology required of and for referees at the Premier level. Each wore a heart rate monitor that would record every five seconds and then be uploaded to the league's headquarters, where fitness experts would pass judgement on the referee's fitness. Another was the laser device that would register when a goal was scored with an audible signal to the refs earphones.
I suspect unless you have some interest or background in soccer — it really should be called football all around the world; that other sport could be called pointy-ball or boring-ball — this book will probably not interest you. I really enjoyed it. The training program and learning experience of top-of-the-line referees is extensive, and that includes a great deal of analysis of mistakes. Webb is not afraid to discuss his blunders, and in soccer, the buck truly stops with the man in the middle.
June 5, 2017
I gave my wife instructions for Christmas that she could buy me a football book, any football book. She bought me a book about a referee. I was not enthused. She said it was so I can see what the ref's viewpoint is.
With lines like the following I thought it would be boring and self-indulgent:
"Transferring all the theory of my refereeing exams on to the pitch was tough."
"I soon transferred through to the Whitbread-sponsored Sheffield and Hallamshire County Senior League, before being promoted on to the assistant referees list of the semi-professional Northern Counties East League."
"My fellow referees line up to offer their congratulations, the likes of Viktor Kassai from Hungary, Ravshan Irmatov from Uzbekistan and Frank de Bleeckere from Belgium."
But I actually liked this. The book helps inform you as to what refs go through and how they arrive at decisions, how they feel when they have got it wrong, how they feel when they have had a good game and so on. And there are funny anecdotes too like how he struggled with CS spray in his policing days, how he graffiti-ed customers complementary diaries while working at the bank, how he swore at a player then explained it after by saying he had told the player he was a "foot off". There's an emotional moment too as he tells the tale of reffing in the Fabrice Muamba match.
And since reading this I have taken more interest in what the ref has been doing in matches, maybe even feeling a bit more sympathy for the "man in the middle".
I would say this book is ideal for aspiring refs, but it's okay for general football fans too.
With lines like the following I thought it would be boring and self-indulgent:
"Transferring all the theory of my refereeing exams on to the pitch was tough."
"I soon transferred through to the Whitbread-sponsored Sheffield and Hallamshire County Senior League, before being promoted on to the assistant referees list of the semi-professional Northern Counties East League."
"My fellow referees line up to offer their congratulations, the likes of Viktor Kassai from Hungary, Ravshan Irmatov from Uzbekistan and Frank de Bleeckere from Belgium."
But I actually liked this. The book helps inform you as to what refs go through and how they arrive at decisions, how they feel when they have got it wrong, how they feel when they have had a good game and so on. And there are funny anecdotes too like how he struggled with CS spray in his policing days, how he graffiti-ed customers complementary diaries while working at the bank, how he swore at a player then explained it after by saying he had told the player he was a "foot off". There's an emotional moment too as he tells the tale of reffing in the Fabrice Muamba match.
And since reading this I have taken more interest in what the ref has been doing in matches, maybe even feeling a bit more sympathy for the "man in the middle".
I would say this book is ideal for aspiring refs, but it's okay for general football fans too.
November 9, 2016
interesting autobiography of rotherham's howard webb of his refereeing and policing career to the modern day with some humour thrown in
August 1, 2018
This book is an honest reflection of the career of a world-famous "whistleblower". Being a referee myself I was hoping to get a better look at the psychological aspects of refereeing like coping with mistakes, preparing mentally and focusing on the game.
Webb has a lot of time for his mistakes. As is normal, all kinds of referee mistakes are somehow justifiable. It does not mean that they should just be acknowledged and the game would go on as normal, but these mistakes are what will make the officials better. After all, when we teach our children to learn from their mistakes, why are referees death-threatened for making mistakes on the field but not encouraged to learn from them?
I was not that impressed with the lack of explanation how did Webb make the big jump from being an amateur referee to reaching the elite level. Actually, there was no explanation at all. It seems that there are some secrets at every occupation and how to become the elite level referee is one of them. Webb illustrates perfectly how to behave with top-class players on world stage (for example Brazil-Chile game at 2010 World Cuü) or how are international matches different from national (Premier League) games but something was still missing.
I was also hoping to have a better look at Webb's family life and to get answers to the quiestion how his children and wife coped with his both physically and mentally difficult job. After examining Webb's Wikipedia page and reading about his divorce, I guess I've now got the answer to that question.
All in all I would recommend this book to all football fans. Understanding the game is impossible without understanding the official's view.
Webb has a lot of time for his mistakes. As is normal, all kinds of referee mistakes are somehow justifiable. It does not mean that they should just be acknowledged and the game would go on as normal, but these mistakes are what will make the officials better. After all, when we teach our children to learn from their mistakes, why are referees death-threatened for making mistakes on the field but not encouraged to learn from them?
I was not that impressed with the lack of explanation how did Webb make the big jump from being an amateur referee to reaching the elite level. Actually, there was no explanation at all. It seems that there are some secrets at every occupation and how to become the elite level referee is one of them. Webb illustrates perfectly how to behave with top-class players on world stage (for example Brazil-Chile game at 2010 World Cuü) or how are international matches different from national (Premier League) games but something was still missing.
I was also hoping to have a better look at Webb's family life and to get answers to the quiestion how his children and wife coped with his both physically and mentally difficult job. After examining Webb's Wikipedia page and reading about his divorce, I guess I've now got the answer to that question.
All in all I would recommend this book to all football fans. Understanding the game is impossible without understanding the official's view.
January 20, 2023
Really good insight into being a top flight referee and so interesting to listen to his opinions and stories from his careers and the behind the scenes of refereeing. Also as an aspiring grassroots referee some really truthful memories and thoughts about key decisions which I of course went and watched on YouTube which I think has helped me improve my own refereeing. 5/5
May 28, 2019
Cant quite make up mind what i think of it, definitely good advice for refereeing, showed how aids and taxing it is at high level, not worth pursuing full effort. Also revealed identity crisis when done with job, there has to be something to keep meaning if you can no longer work. The impact of how you word things when involved with the media is also aids.
February 26, 2017
My earliest memory of Howard Webb was of a dodgy penalty given for Villa against Southampton, and now I just think of him as a competent former referee who seems to have an occasional voice on BT Sport. Like a good goalkeeper, however good they were, a top referee's profile is limited unless they make a bad name for themselves.
For a ref whose reputation was based on his competence, it was a surprisingly quick read that didn't drag. Webb comes across as someone who steered clear of the rivalries at PMGOL (though he does give strong hints as to which side he would have chosen to side with if pressed) and 'got on with it.' Unfortunately, this means that there is less in the way of juicy details, which is to Webb's credit but doesn't hold your attention as 'KP' would.
Some of his anecdotes in his early police days are interesting, but I cannot recall any analysis as to what extent this influenced his refereeing (or whether he was naturally suited to both already) and despite only retiring from the force fairly recently, it's not obvious how he managed to keep his part time role going throughout his refereeing career. From the narrative, it almost sounds as if he was officiating in non-league one minute, then in the Premier League the next, and the progression there is not covered in any depth.
There are honest assessments of his mistakes (including that Villa penalty!) and a strong denial that he ever gave a decision unless he thought it was the correct one, and he also makes the case for refs to admit their mistakes publicly - though I disagree that refs giving comments would actually diffuse fan or manager anger at an incorrect decision. He is also very complimentary of his team members, though he is prepared to put himself first if need be.
There are some interesting insights into how seriously the refereeing is taken in England, and Webb does come across as quite a likeable person. This is definitely a positive, but does mean that there is nothing too hard hitting, and you do wonder how so many pages got filled at times given the content.
For a ref whose reputation was based on his competence, it was a surprisingly quick read that didn't drag. Webb comes across as someone who steered clear of the rivalries at PMGOL (though he does give strong hints as to which side he would have chosen to side with if pressed) and 'got on with it.' Unfortunately, this means that there is less in the way of juicy details, which is to Webb's credit but doesn't hold your attention as 'KP' would.
Some of his anecdotes in his early police days are interesting, but I cannot recall any analysis as to what extent this influenced his refereeing (or whether he was naturally suited to both already) and despite only retiring from the force fairly recently, it's not obvious how he managed to keep his part time role going throughout his refereeing career. From the narrative, it almost sounds as if he was officiating in non-league one minute, then in the Premier League the next, and the progression there is not covered in any depth.
There are honest assessments of his mistakes (including that Villa penalty!) and a strong denial that he ever gave a decision unless he thought it was the correct one, and he also makes the case for refs to admit their mistakes publicly - though I disagree that refs giving comments would actually diffuse fan or manager anger at an incorrect decision. He is also very complimentary of his team members, though he is prepared to put himself first if need be.
There are some interesting insights into how seriously the refereeing is taken in England, and Webb does come across as quite a likeable person. This is definitely a positive, but does mean that there is nothing too hard hitting, and you do wonder how so many pages got filled at times given the content.
June 7, 2021
For a soccer-obsessive, it occurred to me of late that I had never read a biography about a top tier referee. I began my search with Howard Webb, as I knew he was somewhat recently retired (and might therefore be able to speak to the modern game, much changed as it has become) and because I knew he had refereed the World Cup Final, the highest pinnacle in the sport. As it happens, the book mostly delivered. Webb does a very nice job documenting his experiences leading up to the vaunted appointment in South Africa. He speaks honestly about the infamous challenge early in the game on Xabi Alonso, that should have resulted in the Netherlands going down a player. He also talks about his Champions League and FA Cup Final experiences. Webb also discusses his previously undocumented battles with OCD. On the whole, I enjoyed the read, but it's not for those looking for deep insights and stories behind players, managers, coaches and officials. It's a good read for obsessives, without allowing itself to veer into any controversy or ballplayer scuttlebutt.
July 20, 2019
This is a must for any football fan. Getting a referee’s perspective is a rare thing in the beautiful game and this book gives an excellent insight into the high pressure life of the man in the middle.
Webb details his entire refereeing career meticulously and it’s simply fascinating to read. I especially loved his descriptions of the key decisions he made as a ref, whether right or wrong, how he came to them and their ramifications afterwards
As he himself stated in the book several times, the opportunity for football referees to explain their role and how they manage it is one that isn’t given often enough and I, for one, would love to see it incorporated into the modern game more in future.
Webb details his entire refereeing career meticulously and it’s simply fascinating to read. I especially loved his descriptions of the key decisions he made as a ref, whether right or wrong, how he came to them and their ramifications afterwards
As he himself stated in the book several times, the opportunity for football referees to explain their role and how they manage it is one that isn’t given often enough and I, for one, would love to see it incorporated into the modern game more in future.
September 29, 2020
This gives a great insight to the life of a referee. If you're fair minded you'll realise it's tough, they're human and don't want to be the topic of the match.
January 22, 2022
Gdyby zapytać polskiego kibica o nazwiska sędziów, których zna, wielu z pewnością umieściłoby na takiej liście Howarda Webba. Anglik zapisał się w pamięci wielu fanów polskiej reprezentacji ze względu na decyzję podjętą na meczu Austria-Polska podczas Euro 2008. Jego autobiografia poświęca temu wydarzeniu cały rozdział, przedstawiając całą sytuację z zupełnie innej perspektywy. To jeden z kilku smaczków, które czekają na fanów futbolu, których interesują też choćby szczegóły pamiętnego finału mistrzostw świata z 2010 roku.
Całość czyta się całkiem przyjemnie, ale po lekturze zostaje pewne uczucie niedosytu. Webb przybliża świat sędziów, w którym nie brakuje też wewnętrznych konfliktów, ale jednocześnie przez kolejne sezony swojej kariery przelatuje błyskawicznie. Niewiele czasu poświęca choćby relacjom z piłkarzami i trenerami, które przecież stanowią ważny punkt pracy arbitra. Momentami można odnieść wrażenie, że autor niewiele już pamięta z czasów zawodowego sędziowania i nie ma zbyt ciekawych wspomnień do podzielenia się z czytelnikami.
To niezła książka, dająca ciekawe spojrzenie na futbol, ale też pozbawiona elementów, które stawiałyby ją w szeregu obowiązkowych lektur dotyczących świata piłki.
Całość czyta się całkiem przyjemnie, ale po lekturze zostaje pewne uczucie niedosytu. Webb przybliża świat sędziów, w którym nie brakuje też wewnętrznych konfliktów, ale jednocześnie przez kolejne sezony swojej kariery przelatuje błyskawicznie. Niewiele czasu poświęca choćby relacjom z piłkarzami i trenerami, które przecież stanowią ważny punkt pracy arbitra. Momentami można odnieść wrażenie, że autor niewiele już pamięta z czasów zawodowego sędziowania i nie ma zbyt ciekawych wspomnień do podzielenia się z czytelnikami.
To niezła książka, dająca ciekawe spojrzenie na futbol, ale też pozbawiona elementów, które stawiałyby ją w szeregu obowiązkowych lektur dotyczących świata piłki.
July 8, 2017
as an avid crystal palace fan I gotta say I was intrigued by this book and given that its close season I needed my football fix. So thanks howard webb for giving me that. I was open to the possibility this would change my mind about howard webb and I know this may be unpopular with a few football fans but it honestly has. I think it takes a brave man to admit his mistakes and I don't think as a football fan you consider that a ref may reflect after a game and perhaps feel guilty he's made a wrong decision. It's opened my eyes to the world of refereeing and I now have a new found respect for referees, although despite the words spoken about mark clattenburg I'm still not convinced he doesn't dislike palace.
At the end howard webb mentions his relationship with kay and is sceptical about it, howard if ever you read this, I hope you are still together, and thank you for opening my eyes and also giving me my close season football fix.
At the end howard webb mentions his relationship with kay and is sceptical about it, howard if ever you read this, I hope you are still together, and thank you for opening my eyes and also giving me my close season football fix.
October 13, 2024
I was gifted this, and despite being a football autobiography lover, I just I wouldn’t have thought to buy this for myself. I was hooked though when I found out Howard was a Rotherham lad. UTM. Having played in the Rotherham and District leagues it was great to hear some of the team names crop up that I’d encountered over some very fun years in pub leagues.
I felt the book really suggested Howard remains down to Earth and came across nicely. What an incredible career and certainly reminds me of the tough task refs have had over the years.
I felt the book really suggested Howard remains down to Earth and came across nicely. What an incredible career and certainly reminds me of the tough task refs have had over the years.
December 5, 2022
Enjoyable easy to read book about the life of a referee. It's difficult to tell by his tough exterior, but Webb come out as a real nice guy in the book. This book reveals what happens in the referees' locker room, the effort, the stress, harrasment, self doubt, and the clicks that develops between the referees themselves. Although at the end of the book the story seems to drag on a bit and Webb at some points seems just a bit too nice for his own good.
December 3, 2017
Excellent book , good to get into the head of referee who seen and done it all , even though i always remember when he reffed my team Sunderland thinking , " this fecker has it in for us again "
Real laugh out loud moments in it , a few surprises , who knew he suffered from OCD .
Real laugh out loud moments in it , a few surprises , who knew he suffered from OCD .
March 23, 2018
Loved this book very much. Quite funny at times, although I deducted a star for Howard reminding me about 2011-12, the ending of which I would prefer to forget, and for not mentioning enough about 2012-13, which I much preferred!
April 29, 2024
Really enjoyed the insight of the experiences from an international level referee. It's comforting to see that someone at the world cup level experiences the same self-doubt and post-game reflections that the rest of us amateur ones experience.
May 18, 2017
A great read
A book that's nearly impossible to put down.
Made even more fascinating by having known Howard from his days in A1
A book that's nearly impossible to put down.
Made even more fascinating by having known Howard from his days in A1
May 28, 2017
A very interesting insight into the life of a referee. It did get a little repetitive towards the end.
January 14, 2020
Very readable peek into a world I've never fully appreciated. Shadow written though, so Howard can't take all the credit.
November 24, 2021
Two and a half stars
August 12, 2020
The best sport book i've ever read. Referees get alot of stick as Webb mentions in the book by fans, managers, pundits and bascially anybody watching the match. Even when they get it right somebody isn't happy with them.
Hearing about his world cup selection, the plan to kill him and what he had experienced over the years was extremely insightful.
Overall it was brilliant, one of the only books written by a referee and it does them justice.
Hearing about his world cup selection, the plan to kill him and what he had experienced over the years was extremely insightful.
Overall it was brilliant, one of the only books written by a referee and it does them justice.
November 25, 2016
A fascinating insight into a referee's lot
Webb's first game as a match official came when he was just 18 and his father's verdict was "Useless". However, Webb progressed through the ranks, and his natural calm authority made a good impression on players and administrators alike. Soon he was being offered the top matches, the toughest fixtures and the pinnacle, the 2010 World Cup Final. Webb reveals what it was like to be at the heart of the action, how he reacted to every decision being unpicked by television cameras and how he learned to handle some of the game's superstars. With his unique perspective on the game and charismatic honesty, Webb has written a book that reveals the game, and the man himself, in a new light.
This is an inspiring and honest book by a referee that has kept a reasonably low profile since his retirement, unlike others who have recently written autobiographies such as Graham Poll and Mark Halsey. It is written in a no nonsense way reminiscent of Webb's Yorkshire roots and is somewhat surprisingly funny throughout. It is in places a book about self teaching and making your passion into a career by diversifying - Webb clearly knew at an early age that he wasn't good enough to be a professional footballer and so he did what he thought to be the next best thing, and his subsequent journey to the World Cup Final of 2010 is well described.
It is clear that Webb is not a natural writer but that is one of the main attractions to me in that a ghost writer has not flowery language and beautiful prose. He describes eloquently enough the incredible pressures that elite referees are under the in the money mad Premier League, including fitness regimes, psychological testing, intense match schedules, team-building retreats and nearly 30 cameras recording his every move and decision on the pitch. How Webb survived this scrutiny is astonishing given his OCD that he lays bare with almost brutal honesty. Webb comes across as a likeable, trustworthy guy who is happy to own up to his mistakes, although I wish that referees would do this more often on the evening of the game which would help a lot with the simmering resentment of fans up and down the country.
All in all, this is a refreshing and very interesting look at the life of a top, full time referee which may make me think twice about shouting obscenities at a referee who gives a dodgy penalty against my team - on second thoughts, no it won't! Refereeing has improved beyond measure since the inception of the Premier League in 1992 and Howard Webb must be amongst the top ten, so his opinions and observations are well worth a read and I am very glad that I did just that, thanks to Breakaway Reviewers.
Digger 95
Breakaway Reviewers received a copy of the book to review
Webb's first game as a match official came when he was just 18 and his father's verdict was "Useless". However, Webb progressed through the ranks, and his natural calm authority made a good impression on players and administrators alike. Soon he was being offered the top matches, the toughest fixtures and the pinnacle, the 2010 World Cup Final. Webb reveals what it was like to be at the heart of the action, how he reacted to every decision being unpicked by television cameras and how he learned to handle some of the game's superstars. With his unique perspective on the game and charismatic honesty, Webb has written a book that reveals the game, and the man himself, in a new light.
This is an inspiring and honest book by a referee that has kept a reasonably low profile since his retirement, unlike others who have recently written autobiographies such as Graham Poll and Mark Halsey. It is written in a no nonsense way reminiscent of Webb's Yorkshire roots and is somewhat surprisingly funny throughout. It is in places a book about self teaching and making your passion into a career by diversifying - Webb clearly knew at an early age that he wasn't good enough to be a professional footballer and so he did what he thought to be the next best thing, and his subsequent journey to the World Cup Final of 2010 is well described.
It is clear that Webb is not a natural writer but that is one of the main attractions to me in that a ghost writer has not flowery language and beautiful prose. He describes eloquently enough the incredible pressures that elite referees are under the in the money mad Premier League, including fitness regimes, psychological testing, intense match schedules, team-building retreats and nearly 30 cameras recording his every move and decision on the pitch. How Webb survived this scrutiny is astonishing given his OCD that he lays bare with almost brutal honesty. Webb comes across as a likeable, trustworthy guy who is happy to own up to his mistakes, although I wish that referees would do this more often on the evening of the game which would help a lot with the simmering resentment of fans up and down the country.
All in all, this is a refreshing and very interesting look at the life of a top, full time referee which may make me think twice about shouting obscenities at a referee who gives a dodgy penalty against my team - on second thoughts, no it won't! Refereeing has improved beyond measure since the inception of the Premier League in 1992 and Howard Webb must be amongst the top ten, so his opinions and observations are well worth a read and I am very glad that I did just that, thanks to Breakaway Reviewers.
Digger 95
Breakaway Reviewers received a copy of the book to review
February 23, 2017
Solid insight about soccer refereeing
May 7, 2022
Every fan of the beautiful game has to read this book. It's an absolute MUST READ.
Howard Webb provides an amazing insight into a profession that, behind closed doors, is nowhere near what we'd think as fans. The professionalism and dedication required, plus the stresses, emotions and hostility involved, make this one of the toughest and mentally draining jobs that one can do.
Webb talks about the obvious incidents but offers some hilarious tales of woe along the way - bust ups with managers, altercations with players, relationships with peers - it's a recollection of a distinguished career that you can't put down.
You'll develop a better respect for officialdom after this. Sure, it won't stop you raining down f-bombs as the blind banker in the middle denies your team a penalty, however it might make you think twice before threatening to brick his car windows...
Howard Webb provides an amazing insight into a profession that, behind closed doors, is nowhere near what we'd think as fans. The professionalism and dedication required, plus the stresses, emotions and hostility involved, make this one of the toughest and mentally draining jobs that one can do.
Webb talks about the obvious incidents but offers some hilarious tales of woe along the way - bust ups with managers, altercations with players, relationships with peers - it's a recollection of a distinguished career that you can't put down.
You'll develop a better respect for officialdom after this. Sure, it won't stop you raining down f-bombs as the blind banker in the middle denies your team a penalty, however it might make you think twice before threatening to brick his car windows...
Displaying 1 - 25 of 25 reviews