Name: Graeme Fyvie
Age: 24
Refereeing level: 3
Years Refereeing: 7
Email Address: graemefyvie@hotmail.com
How where you introduced into refereeing?
The course was running at Sunderland College, where I was studying for my A-levels. A friend, who I’d played football with for several years, had taken the course & begun refereeing. He recommended that I would enjoy the course & should give it a go. The course was run by Russell Tiffin & Peter Ramsey.
What has been the highlight of your career so far and why?
Achieving promotion to the National List of Contributory Leagues’ Referees in April 2010. I saw this promotion as an important step in my development.
What is the biggest game you have officiated and why?
I was fortunate enough to be appointed, as assistant, to the Conference North play-off final in May 2010. This was, by a distance, the biggest crowd of any game I’ve been involved in. Apart from the obvious promotion to the conference at stake, the winning team were planning to turn professional based on the result of the match (Fleetwood Town beat Alfreton Town 2-1).
What are your aims and ambitions as a referee?
To go as far as I can, keep learning & looking to improve. I think it’s important not to look too far ahead, so I set myself targets each season. My next target is to get promoted to the National List of Assistant Referees.
What/Who has been the biggest influence on your career and why?
Countless people have influenced/shaped my career in some way, so I couldn’t single anybody out. Fellow referees & referee assessors have offered advice & guidance, which has helped me no end.
In your opinion who is / was the best referee?
Whilst Howard Webb has been consistently the top English referee over the last three years, I would have to say that Mark Clattenburg is fast becoming the premier league’s top referee with his performances over the last 18 months or so.
On a personal level, I’ve been fortunate enough to have worked with two of the north-east’s football league referees in Geoff Eltringham & Nigel Miller.
