Direct from the horse's mouth.......

[Borin' Baggie]

I used to deal with a current PL referee quite a bit when he was still non-professional and worked as a sales rep for a medical supplies company.

Nice guy, found it odd that one minute we’d be talking about about theatre saws and drill bits, the next we’d be talking about him booking Rooney at the weekend. He was very complementary about us, although he said reffing Pulis teams was always hard work.

I know the one you mean. You’re right, pretty decent guy.

Funny to think that up until very recently top flight officials had day jobs too.

Makes me hark back to the 80’s where referees would always be introduced along the lines of “David Ellerey, an insurance broker from Stroud”.

Know you’re just using him as an example, but wasn’t Ellerey the one who refused to go professional due to having a very high paying job at a private school?

Housemaster at Harrow.

[Tom Joad]

Or, Jack Taylor, Butcher, Wolverhampton. (World Cup referee, IIRC).

[SW4Baggie]

I used to deal with a current PL referee quite a bit when he was still non-professional and worked as a sales rep for a medical supplies company.

Nice guy, found it odd that one minute we’d be talking about about theatre saws and drill bits, the next we’d be talking about him booking Rooney at the weekend. He was very complementary about us, although he said reffing Pulis teams was always hard work.

I know the one you mean. You’re right, pretty decent guy.

Funny to think that up until very recently top flight officials had day jobs too.

Makes me hark back to the 80’s where referees would always be introduced along the lines of “David Ellerey, an insurance broker from Stroud”.

Know you’re just using him as an example, but wasn’t Ellerey the one who refused to go professional due to having a very high paying job at a private school?

Housemaster at Harrow.

That’s the one! 

He missed refereeing the World Cup in France due to having classes to teach

[Borin' Baggie]

I know the one you mean. You’re right, pretty decent guy.

Funny to think that up until very recently top flight officials had day jobs too.

Makes me hark back to the 80’s where referees would always be introduced along the lines of “David Ellerey, an insurance broker from Stroud”.

Know you’re just using him as an example, but wasn’t Ellerey the one who refused to go professional due to having a very high paying job at a private school?

Housemaster at Harrow.

That’s the one! 

He missed refereeing the World Cup in France due to having classes to teach

"And this, boys, is Bordeaux. I could have been drinking some nice red wine in the sunshine here but instead I'm teaching you posh gits Geography"

[Borin' Baggie]

I know the one you mean. You’re right, pretty decent guy.

Funny to think that up until very recently top flight officials had day jobs too.

Makes me hark back to the 80’s where referees would always be introduced along the lines of “David Ellerey, an insurance broker from Stroud”.

Know you’re just using him as an example, but wasn’t Ellerey the one who refused to go professional due to having a very high paying job at a private school?

Housemaster at Harrow.

That’s the one! 

He missed refereeing the World Cup in France due to having classes to teach

"And this, boys, is Bordeaux. I could have been drinking some nice red wine in the sunshine here but instead I'm teaching you posh gits Geography"

[steviedm]

Or, Jack Taylor, Butcher, Wolverhampton.    (World Cup referee, IIRC).

Refereed the 1974 World Cup Final. Awarded a penalty to Holland in the first minute.