King Harry For England

King Harry, as he is affectionately known by supporters (or more specifically me), has reigned supreme at the Lane since taking over the managerial crown in 2008.

Harry Redknapp arriving at Southwark Crown Court for his Tax Evasion Trial

As we all know, unless you have been residing in a cave dwelling in the Bora Bora Mountains, the 64-year-old is the people’s favourite to be anointed England manager after the dismissal of Fabio Capello. He even has the blessing from the irascible king of Old Trafford, Sir Alex Ferguson.

There has not been such a chorus of approval from the nation for one man to lead England since the days of Brian Clough. Unfortunately, the dullards at the FA passed him over for Ron Greenwood. It’s unlikely they would make the same mistake again (appointing Roy Hodgson for instance).

Old ‘Arry in his modesty has played down the notion he is automatic choice. But King Harry knows as sure as he knows the number of foreign bank accounts he has, that he is nailed on for the job. It would almost be treasonable if he decided not to replace the Italian.

As a fan my memories stretches back to the exploits of Jennings, Chivers, Peters and Gilzean. But between those halcyon days and the present there has been a lot of dross with a few euphoric moments thrown in. The most joyous was the 1991 semi-final against the Gunners where Gascoigne scored with a magnificent free-kick that was so far out that the ball must have been propelled by a jet engine.

However, this current side is the best Tottenham team I have witnessed. Credit has to go to Redknapp who has managed to pattern a side of constant underachievers into a team who display endeavour, commitment, passion and some style.

We know that the England job as the reputation of being “a poisoned chalice”. Most managers have ended their tenure in animosity, recrimination and ignominy. A career as England manager is like a career in politics – it always ends in failure.

But I suppose going through the strain of a tax evasion trial is infinitely worse. The danger of having your liberty taking away puts everything in prospective.

Its one thing having a turnip superimposed on your head in the Sun newspaper, as was the case for Graham Turner, then having to share a cell with men, who may, with the absence of females, take an unnatural shine to you.

No Spurs fan wants King Harry to depart. But it’s sadly inevitable. We now need to look for a new king – someone who will get the players performing in the same scintillating fashion as they have under Redknapp.

Undoubtedly, the Chairman Daniel Levy is a man of vision. So Mr Levy if you are reading this please move heaven and earth to obtain the services of Pep Guardiola. I am sure the Spaniard must be sick and tired of winning countless trophies with Barcelona.

As we say down in Tottenham Hale, amongst the myriad of Kebab shops and Fried Chicken outlets – The king is dead long live king – preferably King Guardiola (if he could bring Prince Lionel with him all the better).

Will it be the Great BRITISH Olympics? - The 2012 Games are not just about the Capital

 

Lord Coe and Denise Lewis launches Olympic Torch relay


AUGUST 5th is a date most people would have made a cursory note in their diaries to keep free – will at least 9.5 seconds of it. It’s when Usain Bolt – the reigning Olympic champion - will be steadying himself on his starting blocks of the 100m final.

Millions viewing will be wondering whether the Jamaican will repeat his superhuman feats of four years ago. For many, including the media, this is what the London 2012 Olympics is all about.

This myopic view of the Olympics can be forgiven. As it says on the packet - London Olympics 2012 - suggests the Games is purely for the benefit and pleasure of Londoners plus the hoards of tourists who will be flocking to the capital.

But this is a misnomer. There will be a vast array of Olympic sporting and cultural events that are taking place across the country. Unfortunately, the media attention on these events will be inconsequential next to the exploits of the fastest man on the planet.

However, communities up and down the UK will feel the impact of London 2012 just as memorably as the stadium spectators watching arguably the blue ribbon event of the Games, on the first Sunday in August.

Gordon Arnott who heads the media operations at One North East, a Regional Development Agency (RDA) which overseas economic development within North East England shares this view.

He said: “The London 2012 Games are not just about London. The key commitments of the Games are that they benefit the whole of the UK and provide people of all ages with the impetus and inspiration to take up sport.”

Mr. Arnott believes like other areas of the UK, the North East will ensure that especially young people are able to make the most of the opportunities provided by London 2012.

Danny O’Donovan, chairman of the 2012 Schools and Young People Task Group based in Kent, echoes this.

“The media may concentrate on the Olympic events in the capital, but London 2012 represents a unique opportunity for Kent to use the Games as a catalyst to deliver new projects, initiatives and programmes for young people,” he said.

The media may consider Bolt to be the hottest ticket in town. But if journalists would occasionally venture out of the hi-tech media suites in the Olympic Village, they would see a world out there where the positive influence of the Olympics is going unreported.

A world where the volunteers, participants and agencies are doing such sterling work to bring alive the Games to their communities, may not even have time to spare to watch a Jamaican run under 10 seconds to reclaim his Olympic title.

Murray Shows True Grit In Defeat

Compelling, spellbinding and truly mesmeric. It left one emotional exhausted just watching this enthralling spectacle.

I can’t imagine how Novak Djokovic and Andy Murray must have felt after their epic semi-final encounter at the Australian Open, which the world number one eventually secured victory in five brutally competitive sets.

Be in no doubt, this wasn’t Andy Murray of old whom 12 months ago meekly surrendered in three one-sided sets to the Serb in the final of the same tournament.

The Scot pushed Djokovic to the limit. Murray kept his composure throughout and did not chastise himself into defeat as we have seen him do on so many other occasions in the past. He gallantly fought back from what seem to be hopeless positions. Murray’s shot making in the match was bold, brave and brilliant – he never took a step back even under the most intense pressure from the four-time Grand Slam winner.

Arguably, we learnt more about Murray in this match that lasted nearly five hours than all the other of his matches including his three Grand Slam final appearances. Undoubtedly, he gave his best ever performance in this narrow and heroic defeat.

Much praise must go to Ivan Lendl, Murray’s new coach. The argument has always been that Murray has the array of shots to win a major tournament but it was whether he possesses the mental toughness to go along with it.

With the help of Lendl, and as clearly evidenced in Melbourne last Friday night, Murray is moving in the right path of adding mental stability and calmness to his formidable armoury.

Although only together for a matter of weeks the Czech’s influence can already be seen in Murray’s demeanour on and off the court. He’s no longer the whining, moping Scot with a litany of excuses for his defeats. The 24 year-old has grown from a boy into a man overnight.

Whether Murray can break into the ruling triumvirate of Rafal Nadal, Roger Federer and Novak Djokovic is a moot point. You would forgive Murray if he sometimes curses the Gods to be born in the same era as three of the greatest players to ever swing a racket.

However, with the wily 51 year-old Czech in his corner, himself a Grand Slam winner eight times, Murray is only a racket’s width away from breaking into the seemingly impregnable trio.

If Murray continues his development under Lendl, that similar to London buses there maybe not one but three or four grand slam titles coming his direction before the Scot hangs up his tennis shoes.

Anthony Joshua - Punching Above And Beyond His Weight

Jessica Ennis maybe the poster girl for London 2012 and in the forefront of most peoples’ consciousness when choosing their favoured British athlete for the Olympics. However, there is a boxing colossus hailing from North London, who, well after the Olympic flame makes its circuitous route to Rio, will be talked about in the same reverential terms as our beloved heptathlon.

You cannot but be impressed by Anthony Joshua. At 6ft 6in he’s built like a NFL linebacker but moves in the ring as if was a contestant on Strictly Come Dancing – with grace and poise. These commendable assets are accompanied by a left hook that Joe Frazier would be proud of – and ‘Smoking Joe’ had a great left hook!

These skills were in ample evidence when Joshua claimed a silver medal at the World Amateur Championships in October 2011, after losing a thrilling final by a point. Along the way the super-heavyweight defeated Italy’s double and reigning Olympic champion Roberto Cammarelle.

Having guaranteed his place in the GB Boxing team, the 22-year-old is not short of confidence when it comes to his prospects at next summer’s Olympics. He said: I’m made for it. I am not overwhelmed by it. Sometimes I think this is what I was supposed to do. I will deal with it all right. I feel I am heading in the right direction.”

Surprisingly, he cites Audley Harrison – who won Olympic gold in 2000 – as an inspiration figure and one of the reasons why he took up the sport just 4 years ago.

“A lot of people have got bad things to say about Audley but for British Boxing he opened up so many gates. I know he didn’t do too well as a pro but he was an ABA, Commonwealth and Olympic champion as a boxer and he is British.”

Regarding his boxing future after the games, the Londoner is in no hurry to make a decisive decision just yet about turning professional.

He said: "I cannot buy the experience I am getting now. As soon as I turn pro I have no other options. I want to get the most out of my amateur career. I am going to an Olympics and then if I was going to turn pro I would have done everything I could as an amateur. I don’t want to rush anything.

“If turning pro is the best thing for me at the time I’ll do it but if going to Rio for the 2016 Olympics and staying amateur is then I would do that.”

Whatever career choice Joshua makes, it seems inevitable that his name is guaranteed to be on the lips of most sporting aficionados before, during and well after Olympics have come to a close.

Boxing Clever For Gold

Adams (in red) seeking Olympic Gold at 2012 Games

The 14th August 2009 is a date very much etched in the mind of Nicola Adams. The Leeds boxer knew then that her lifetime ambition of Olympic glory could now be finally realised. The International Olympic Committee’s Executive Board (EB) announced on this day the inclusion of women’s boxing for the Games in London in the 2012 Olympics. The three weight classes that women would be able to fight included flyweight (48-51kg) – the weight that Adams competed at and over the last 5 years had earned her reputation as a genuine Olympic gold medal prospect for her country.

The 27-year-old opens up to Graff-iti Worth Reading, revealing her personal ambitious leading up to the London 2012, her own route into the sport and her unadulterated optimism for the future of women’s amateur boxing in Britain.

Many boxing experts regard you as our best Olympic Boxing prospect male or female. How do you regard your own chances of winning gold at the London games?
The first task will be to qualify (at the World Championships in May) and provided I do that and maintain my form, I am confident I can do well. I have a good track record (2 world silvers and European gold) and think that if I box my best then I will be difficult to beat.

Who do you consider your main rivals for Olympic gold at the London Olympics?
I think it has to be Cancan Ren from China. I lost to her in the final of the world championships in September 2010. She’s the person I would be most concerned about.

What age did you start boxing and why did you choose that particular sport?
I was around twelve at the time. My mum took me to the gym for exercise. I really enjoyed the sport and I have stuck with it ever since.

If it wasn’t boxing what other sport would you of tried and why?
I have not really tried too many others sports. I have done boxing from being relatively young and it is the thing I excel at.

How did it make you feel to be to the first ever British female boxer win a major boxing title at the European Boxing Championships?
It was amazing. I have got a lot of silvers so to finally win a gold was a breakthrough. The timing was also very good as we build up to the Worlds and then the Olympics.

Who were your childhood boxing heroes and who do you currently admire now either male or female in the sport?
The boxer I enjoyed watching was Sugar Ray Leonard. I loved his style and panache. Among the current crop of boxers, I do admire Amir Khan. I think he’s an outstanding fighter.

Some critics still disregard women’s boxing. What measures in your opinion would it take to change this misconception?
I think the critics are few and far between nowadays and when you do have a discussion with them about it, eventually it becomes pretty clear that their attitude is grounded in chauvinism or they just don’t like boxing outright. As far as I am concerned any arguments over women’s boxing have been well and truly won. We are in the Olympics, the sport is thriving at the grassroots, it is very popular with politicians and policy makers and when it comes to 2012, I think the sport will widen its fan base even further.

How do you see the future of British women’s amateur boxing between now and the next Olympics in Rio in 2016?
I think the Olympics will give the sport a significant boost. It will raise the profile of the sport and I think that will lead to further increases in participation. At the elite end, I hope we will see an expansion of the number of weight categories for 2016.

Do you regard yourself as a role model for females who are considering taking up boxing and what advice would you give for girls wanting to embrace the sport?
My advice would be if you enjoy it then do it. A lot of people do non-contact boxing, which is a great way of getting fit. If you want to progress to competitive boxing then find a good club linked to the ABA and go through the ranks that way.

Boxing is great for fitness but it also delivers a lot of other benefits to people and communities in terms of getting kids off the street and giving them discipline and a focus.

I have spoken at the House of Commons about these issues to MPs and cabinet ministers. The sport is very popular with politicians because they recognise it delivers a huge amount of good in socially excluded communities.

Aside from boxing what other Olympic events and competitors are you looking forward to watching at London 2012?
Has to be Rebecca Adlington in the swimming. Not only is she a great athlete but a great role model for young women and so down to earth. Like everybody else I am looking forward to watching Usain Bolt on the track.

Dismiss England's Chances at Euro 2012 At Your Peril

It was always expected that Fabio Capello’s team of perennial under performers would qualify for Euro 2012. Suffering England fans that watched this tense encounter in Podgorica would probably not be exactly rushing to their local Waitrose to purchase cases of Cava to celebrate – it was far from a champagne performance.

Indeed the likes of Spain, Holland and Germany will not be resorting to whiskey and Valium at the prospect of England competing in Poland and Ukraine next summer.

The outcome of the match would have been so different if England had performed in the same positive fashion as they did in the first half hour against a Montenegro side who were enthusiastic but nevertheless limited.

England deserved their lead via a brace of goals scored courtesy of the wonderfully inform Ashley Young, and Darren Bent, who partnered Wayne Rooney upfront. England was literally strolling towards qualification with a spring in their step and plenty to spare.

However, it was this hubris that allowed Montenegro back in the game through Elsad Zverotic who halved the deficit at the conclusion of the first half. Still with only 17 minutes remaining England seem to have secured a comfortable victory. It was Rooney’s inexplicable reaction to a collision with an opposition defender that blighted his and England’s evening in the City Stadium. In the end Montenegro deserved their injury time equaliser from Andrija Delibasic that sent his team into the 2012 Euro play-offs.

The post-mortem will inevitably focus on Rooney’s red card and arguably rightly so. But people should be reminded that England never lost a qualifying game and away from Wembley they put in some very commendable performances.

England go into this summer’s tournament with low expectation, which is not a bad thing. England traditionally play better against top sides and there will be plenty of them at the Euros.

More compellingly, with Fabio Capello leaving the job after the Championship and with the Italian having several points to prove after the debacle of the World Cup in South Africa, don’t be too startled that with or without their talisman Rooney, Capello and England maybe the surprise package of the tournament. On second thoughts you may want to put the Cava on ice.

Nadal Versus Federer - Who is the Rightful King

As with many tennis fans I am eagerly looking forward to Wimbledon commencing on 20th June (now in its 125th year). With Andy Murray playing so well in the Aegron Championships at Queens Club there is a realistic prospect that the Number 4 seed in the world could lift the mens All England Championship Trophy come the 3rd July.

However, in order to do so he would have to inevitably overcome the ‘master blaster’ Rafa Nadal – who I consider debatably the best tennis player of all time.

Some may consider this view preposterous as the ‘King of Tennis’ still reigns in the shape of the Swiss maestro Roger Federer. Please can I make this crystal clear that I am a great admirer of Roger Federer and have some sympathy with the view that Federer is probably the best player ever to walk onto a tennis court. There certainly has never been such an elegant player with more beautiful form and strokes or all around game. Tennis has never seen another player like Federer who can move with such grace and speed, and who never seems to break a sweat or get his shoes and socks dirty as his feather-light footwork carries him ballet-dancer like around the court.

With his classic strokes (updated for today's new power game), Federer would easily have been at home among the players of William Tilden, Jack Crawford and Fred Perry, playing with wooden rackets and adorned in cream long pants. With the most major Grand Slam singles titles ever at 16, you would need to have the adversary skills of John Mortimer's fictional barrister character, Rumpole of the Bailey to argue against the many who have anointed Federer as the “Greatest of All Time”.

However, with the demolition by Rafal Nadal over Federer in 4 sets in the French Open Final the assertion of the Ferderer’s supporters of him being the best ever deserves closer scrutiny. It would be erroneously to just believe Nadal is just the “King of Clay” he is far more versatile than that.

Looking purely at statistics only, Federer has lost for the 17th time overall to Nadal whereas the Spaniard has lost to the Swiss 8 times. In Grand Slam Finals, Nadal holds a decisive 6-2 edge over Federer. Nadal is also the youngest player of the open era to win a career Grand Slam (winning all four Grand Slam singles titles) and the second male player (Andre Agassi is the other) to win a Career Golden Slam (all four Grand Slams and an Olympic Gold medal). He has also won three Davis Cup Finals as part of the Spanish team. By comparison, Federer has never won a singles Olympic Gold medal or won a Davis Cup Final for his country.

Nadal, who just turned 25 years old, now has won 10 Grand Slam singles titles, only 6behind Federer who turns 30 in August. They also have to contend with Novak Djokovic and Andy Murray both 24, who are seeking to usurp their throne. No one can predict how many more Grand Slam singles titles Roger has left in him, or how many more years Rafa's extreme physical style of play will allow him to continue before his knees finally give out. Can Rafa eventually eclipse Roger's record-breaking 16 Grand Slam titles? Time will tell.

I believe it's hard for Federer to be considered the greatest player of all time when he's lost to Rafa more than twice as many times as he's beaten him. It could be legitimately considered that Federer might not be even the best player of his own era. Rumpole of the Bailey could certainly argue the case.

No 'Arab Spring' for FIFA

As a keen follower of the most watched sport on the planet it breaks my heart to witness Sepp Blatter being re-elected for another 4-year term as Fifa President as was the case on the 1st June 2011. This ‘North Korean’ style coronation of Blatter was set amongst a backdrop of fierce allegations of corruption, in particular for me, Qatar's outrageous victory in securing the the World Cup in 2022.

Unquestionably, Qatar’s landing of the World Cup was secured by bribing corrupt Fifa officials to the tune of millions of dollars to vote for their bid.

The most obvious choice in most observers eyes for hosting the World Cup in 2022 was either United States or Australia with the former being firm favourites to win the bid. Therefore, it came an enormous surprise to many when Qatar became the first Middle Eastern nation to host the World Cup.

This unfathomable decision by Fifa has to be in my mind put into context why this result flies in the face of common sense. First, Qatar, which has never qualified for the competition is the smallest nation (with less than 2 million people) to host a World Cup. Second, Qatar has a very harsh climate during the summer – which inevitable poises problems for most teams participating. Third, the country has no football history or pedigree – it is not a powerhouse in Asia when it comes to the sport, and they have yet to win a serious competition in that region. Forth, supporters arriving for this prestigious event in 2022 will not be permitted to consume alcohol (Qatar is a Muslim country and drinking in public is strictly prohibited). Lastly, if you are Gay – remain in the closet - as homosexuality is illegal in Qatar.

Peoples concerns about the transparency of the 2022 World Cup bidding process was further strengthened when the Asian Football Confederation President Mohammed Bin Hammam was accused of offering bribes to replace Sepp Blatter as Fifa chief.

In my opinion Qatar should be disqualified from hosting the World Cup, since Bin Hammam was the alleged principle instigator behind buying the votes by using his country's money and influence. It was reported that at least two Fifa officials from the Ivory Coast and Cameroon respectively were each paid $1.5 million to support Qatar's bid for the tournament. With a groundswell of popular support across the globe, it is time for Fifa to make a bold decision and take back Qatar's 2022 dream away from them. Fifa has since opened an internal inquiry into Qatar’s bid, and a re vote on the 2022 World Cup remains a possibility.

For me the way forward for this wayward organisation is that from now on Fifa officials should be vetted as rigorously as any other public servant or politician and a 2-year term limit should be placed on all senior posts including the position of Head of Fifa. I am not the only who thinks Sepp Blatter has outlived his usefulness as President of Fifa.

A Sense of Place

For me, there's only one location where I genuinely feel a sense of place - Lord's Cricket Ground.

I can still vividly remember venturing there as an impressionable 14 year old for trials with Middlesex Cricket Club as an aspiring batsman and an occasional spin-bowler.

Entering the gates on the morning of the trail was an exhilarating experience. The smell of linseed oil being liberally applied on cricket bats punctuated the atmosphere. I thought to myself yes, this is where I truly belong.

Up to that stage cricket had been my life. Every ounce of me wanted to become professional cricketer, and the cathedral of cricket, Lord's, was the place I wanted those fantasies to become reality.

I would often dream of striding elegantly across the perfectly manicured and hallowed turf of this famous cricket ground, in my creased ironed whites, bat in hand, ready to commence war with the best bowlers in the world.

It soon dawned on me that my fellow contemporaries all shared the same dream. I rapidly realised I was a Stockport United to their Barcelona. I was way out of my league. I was inconsolable for weeks.

Thirty years on, Lord's still generates a tingling sensation in the back of my spine whenever I attend a match. It’s still a place where I feel I belong – but now only as a mere spectator.

In England We Trust - Have Faith

After watching England's first match of the World Cup against the USA on the 12th June, I still believe that England's captain Steven Gerrard will lift the Jules Rimet Trophy on Sunday 11 July.

They were terribly unlucky. Robert Green's howler is the stuff of nightmares for any goalkeeper. England had dominated the play before then and were well worth their one-nil lead. With a bit more luck they would of won the game by 3 or 4 goals. I thought their performance was commendable and will improve as they progress through the tournament. I am positive they will bounce back and be stronger for this minor set-back.

Listening to the radio talk-in shows you would of thought that England had been knocked out of the World Cup and that they were the worst team ever to put on a pair of football boots. As ever if the team wins they are the best if they lose (or draw in this case) they are completely and utterly pants. There no shades of grey when it comes to the England national side. I think the worst offender on these talk-shows are the hosts in particular one chap Alan Green who works for Radio 5. At every opportunity he lambastes England and their lack of world class players. It must be said that he makes a very comfortable living in commentating on them all over the world. I think he and other commentators should back the national side rather than constantly criticise them.

We do have world class players and its the likes of Gerrard, Lampard, Cole (both Ashley and Joe) Rooney and Robert Green which will end 44 years of torment, frustration and hurt and bring the World Cup back to England. In England we trust.

Rising Tide of Violence Against Referees

With the 2010 World Cup just around the corner and England one of the favourites to win the Jules Rimet Trophy, everything appears to be buoyant within the English professional game. However, this cannot be said of the amateur game. Indeed the future of amateur football is in crisis after a report reveals that over 1 in 3 referees are leaving the game because of the fear of violence from players and supporters.

The study by the Sir Norman Chester Centre for Football Research at Leicester University suggest that with so many referees leaving the game and fewer people willing to replace them, that within a decade some amateur leagues may well fold because of the shortage of qualified referees.

The problem is particularly acute in London, where according to the London Football Association (LFA) some league matches were cancelled last season because of the absence of trained match officials.

Regarding assaults on referees LFA statistics show that there were 41 recorded assaults for the 2009/2010 season. These do not take into account the assaults, which were not reported.

Many of the reported attacks on referees normally land at the desk of Stephen Perrins, the general secretary to the London Society of Referees. An organisation that looks after the welfare of referees in the capital. He shares the concerns of the report.

Perrins said: "I have known of referees being head-butted and punched by players when a decision has gone against their team. There was even one incident where a wife of a player got so irate that she ran on to the pitch and starting hitting the referee with her umbrella."

Perrins feels that players discipline has gradually worsened over the years.

He said: "There has always been verbal abuse directed towards referees. Normally this can be dealt with within the laws of the game. But what you see now is that players and even supporters go beyond verbal abuse and feel it's their right to man-handled referees as well."

Perrins, 49, said that more needed to be done by clubs and leagues to severely reprimand players if they have been found guilty of serious assault against referees.

Chris Tanning, a referee for nearly 3 decades echoes this view. He has become one of many officials who has fallen victim to the violence spreading in amateur football.

"18 months ago I took charge of a game where I sent of a player for abusive behaviour. He was so incensed with my decision that he head-butted me smashing my jaw," Tanning said.

The father of two, had to undergo two major operations to repair three fractures in his jaw. He now wears a steel plate in his head.

Despite his horrific ordeal Tanning still officiates today even though his family have urged him to pack it in.

"I still get spat at and called every name under the sun," said the 59-year-old. "There's quite a lot of that going on at the moment, and it has definitely got worse over the past few years. That's why we are losing so many referees in London and elsewhere."

At the other end of the age spectrum is John Good who qualified as a referee just six months ago. But already he has to run the gauntlet of hate every week from players and supporters at the tender age of 19.

Good said: "In six months, I've been physically attacked and have received verbal threats in almost every game. On one occasion, I sent a player off and, as he was leaving the pitch, he said he would burn my house down with my family inside."

Good warned that violence was destroying the game at grass-roots level and fewer younger referees like himself were coming through because of it.

He said: "We need unified and stringent action not only from clubs and leagues but also from the governing body the LFA to stamp out verbal and physical intimidation from the game before it's too late."

David Fowkes, the chief executive of LFA is all too well aware of the crisis facing non-league football in London. He believes that the newly introduced National Participants Database (NPD), would be one measure to solve this problem.

He said: "Everybody involved in football, be it clubs, players, coaches or referees would need to register on the new database and be given an unique number."

This initiative Fowkes said would identify players who have been previously banned for violent conduct not being able to play for another club using a different name.

"The database will weed out violent offenders and reduce the intimidation that referees have to endure," he explained.

Fowkes also said that the LFA would be announcing a crackdown on violence and abusive behaviour towards referees both on and off the pitch.

He said: "Referees at this level need our full protection because without them amateur football will slowly die."