JOHN McKENDRICK is a referee who got his break in the juniors before taking charge of over 300 senior games.
But after retiring from top level football he wasn’t finished - and wanted to go back to where it all began.
Now every weekend you’ll find John – Professor John to give him his full title - as a man in the middle somewhere in the West of Scotland League.
John joins us on the show this week and reveals just how good a grounding junior football was – AND explains why he’s not prepared to hang up his whistle just yet.
If you happen to be at one of his games you can look out for his legendary warmup, which he tells us all about.
We hear whether referees really take notice of their ratings in the papers – and why there is a shortage of officials right now.
There’s also the time he held up the injury time board without realising the batteries were flat – and just how many red cards he dished out.
Plus there’s the day he got lost going to an orienteering competition, how Michael Palin inspired him to cycle to Nepal and his passion for ending child poverty.
It’s all here as we go Down The Divisions.
We'd like to give a quick mention to our sponsors FortyFour Creative. They have a team of highly skilled and passionate photographers, graphic designers, videographers and video editors to help promote your content, brand, organisation or event. They make creation personal. Find out more at www.fortyfourcreativehq.com
If you have any comments we'd love to hear from you. Likewise if you're at a club who would like your post-match audio featured on the show then do get in touch. You can email downthedivisions@gmail.com or contact us through Facebook, Twitter or Instagram.
Down The Divisions logo design Adam Aitken
Intro and outro music Bensound
083 Gordon Robertson: Junior Cup final suits Yoker after shocking Petershill & 12 years at Clydebank
082 Alex McDowall: Replacing the Junior Cup, bumper prize money, why the conferences don’t work, reopening SJFA membership & life at Gartcairn
081 Ryan Caddis & Andy Bell: Making their mark at Craigmark, FIFA red tape, taekwando & going viral PLUS Jamie Nesbitt on double celebration with Thorniewood
080 Jamie McKim: Johnstone Burgh injustice in derby, promotion hopes & recruitment PLUS Adam Hopes on The Drum’s Conference C D-Day
079 Andy Souter: Grounds for optimism at Lanark, wearing pinnies Stateside & a better system for kids being freed at the top level
078 Chris Cameron on reviving Neilston & the shock end to his playing career PLUS Sean Kenney on promotion for Ardeer
077 Brian Blair on winning Div 4 after changing mentalities at Finnart PLUS Kennie Young on what happens next & should new teams join
076 Craig Palmer: Getting Arthurlie up & running after learning to walk again plus the moaners and farters in the Dunterlie dressing room
075 Neil Schoneville: Following a Gow legend as boss, the death of the old centre-half and why Colin O’Neill made him cry
074 Newmains United takeover, Craig Menzies on joining Pollok, Paul’s team of the season so far and the question about next term’s Division Three.
073 Mark Daly: Spud on losing his chips at Wishaw, Paul’s reasons for quitting Newmains & Moff miffed at Bankies cup drama
072 Jimmy Quigley: becoming Renfrew boss after 21 years, winning & losing Scottish Cup on same day and a Big Mac breakfast to start his testimonial
071 Brian Crawford: Football Manager to football manager at Larkhall, losing his job for scoring a winner & doing his cruciate after refusing to come off
070 Alan Robertson: Bonnyton in with the big boys, club man at Killie & Boydy & Naisy PLUS Murdo MacKinnon on Pollok‘s double drama
069 Tony McInally Part 2 on tennis & fancy suits, Kennie Young on phases to the finish & Sean Kenney on fireworks at Ardeer
068 Tony McInally Part 1: coal thieving in Cumnock, a year‘s ban for a first offence at Shotts & life at Pollok PLUS Mark Mackay‘s Best of the West
067 Peter Higgins: Royal Albert being made to pay the penalty and why he nearly quit after 30 years
065 Mark Mackay: Vale of Clyde exit & early season departures plus his 13-second red card
064 Lugar BT's Greg Gallagher & Andy Reid on their Rosebank revival, Greg's axe at Craigmark & serial winner Andy's lessons learned at Blackburn
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