066 Prof John McKendrick: refereeing where it started, warmups, red cards, Michael Palin & child poverty

Down The Divisions

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.

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