When news broke that English Premier League team Queens Park Rangers had arranged a pre-season friendly with League of Ireland side Athlone Town, the FAI referees’ co-ordinator John Ward had no hesitation in appointing Mullingar man Ray Matthews to referee the game.
By Paul O’Donovan
Ray, probably better known locally as ‘Razor’ Matthews, has progressed up the ranks of refereeing, to officiate now on regular basis in the ‘Premier League’ of the League of Ireland.
While refereeing a competitive Premier League game in the League of Ireland brings its difficulties and requires great sharpness and good officiating, the chance to referee a game involving some of the stars of the English Premier League is an opportunity that doesn’t come along that often.
Names such as Rio Ferdinand, Joey Barton, Bobby Zamora, Richard Dunne and Shaun Wright Philips, not to mention their charismatic manager Harry Redknapp, are household names and stars of the game that most fans just catch a glimpse of on TV but for Ray Matthews, refereeing these high profile players in a pre-season friendly against Athlone Town was just another game.
For the record the multi-million pound stars from North-West London defeated Athlone Town 2-0, in front of a healthy attendance of 2,800, on Tuesday evening, 5 August, at Athlone Town Stadium, in a game that was very enjoyable for all who attended, and was a very smooth 90 minutes for Ray and his team of officials.
DELIGHTED TO GET
THE CALL
“I suppose I was a little surprised when I got the news I would be refereeing the QPR game,” Ray told Topic this week.
Having said that, the season is going well for me so far as a referee. I initially thought I might be fourth official, but I was delighted to get the call to be the man in the middle. Once I got the news I was looking forward to it and to a decent game as Athlone have a good set-up and I knew there would be a good crowd and a good atmosphere at it. It probably didn’t sink in at first that there would be so many Premier League stars involved but my preparations for the game were the same as any other League of Ireland game, or any junior game.
Sunday was a day of rest as I had refereed on Saturday night, so I just did some light training on Monday, prior to the game on Tuesday evening. I wasn’t nervous before the game but once Tuesday afternoon arrived I was a little apprehensive and I just wanted to get down to Athlone.
I knew there would be QPR fans travelling from all over the country and it would be a good family atmosphere and I just wanted to add to that. I went through my normal warm up with my team of officials and once the game began it was just a matter of keeping control, and making sure nothing silly happened and everyone enjoyed the day,” said Matthews.
Despite their high profile reputation Matthews had no problems during the 90 minutes and kept the game ticking over having the occasional chat and quick reassurance with some of the players from both sides just to remind them to keep playing football.
BEGAN AT UNDER 12 LEVEL
Matthews, who still has his youthful looks, despite the fact that he turns 40 on his next birthday, has 15 years of refereeing experience behind him.
Injury cut short Ray’s playing career just 21 and when he was progressing onto the Mullingar Athletic first team. He then took up an opportunity to coach some of the Athletic Youth teams, before at the age of 25, he reluctantly agreed to referee a game. “The first game I refereed was an under 12 game out in Gainstown. I wasn’t that enthusiastic about it to be honest but Mullingar Athletic Secretary Liam McGovern wouldn’t take no for an answer so eventually I agreed to ref the game. I don’t know what happened that day, but I went home and felt that was different and I had enjoyed it I suppose the refereeing bug had bit me,” said Matthews.
The rest is history as they say. Matthews became a well-known figure for all local soccer players as he progressed up through the ranks, officiating locally for the Midland Branch, before moving up to the League of Ireland ranks. Having been fourth official and referee’s assistant for a number of seasons Matthews progressed to League of Ireland referee this season.
“I refereed Athlone against UCD a couple of months ago, that was my first game to ref in the Premier Division and I did Galway against Shels just last week in the First Division and last weekend I refereed Athlone against Sligo in the Premier Division, up in Sligo, and that game went well too,” said Matthews.
“Ultimately I would like to be a regular referee in the Premier Division of the League of Ireland, that would be my aim, and of course I would love to be the man in the middle for an FAI Cup final some day, if all goes well, who knows, but for the moment I just am concentrating on refereeing my next game and improving on each performance.
I would also encourage, any man or woman, no matter what age they are, to consider taking up refereeing. Maybe, if they are disillusioned with playing or out through injury, they really should consider it. It can be a great experience. If I have any regret in football it is that I didn’t take up refereeing at a younger age,” said Matthews.
The Premier League in England begins this coming week and no doubt in between refereeing games and working as a barman in the popular Number One Bar in Harbour Street, Mullingar, Ray will catch a glimpse on TV of QPR taking on the likes of Liverpool, Man United, Chelsea and Arsenal.
“I suppose it won’t sink in until then that I refereed a Premier League team, but I will also remember all those that helped and encouraged me to take up and continue refereeing, people such as Liam McGovern at Mullingar Athletic, John Stacey in Athlone and”…then Ray pauses as he reflects on the sad news he had received earlier that morning that Breffni Rowan, a well-known football man and referee assessor from Athlone had died. “It was very sad to hear Breffni had passed away, he was my assessor for many years,” said Ray.
Ray was also quick to point out the significant role his family plays in his sporting career too. “Without the help and support of my wife Nicole and my three kids, Daisy (6), Ashton (3) and the latest arrival, baby Joshua, I wouldn’t be able to referee at the highest level, they have been a great support and encouragement to me,” said Ray who is just looking forward to being the man in the middle for several more years at the top level of Irish soccer.
