The Silent Game

Arthur Kingscott 1901 is a name you may not be familiar with, he was the last referee to officiate the FA cup final twice. The FA cup is the most famous of trophies and to officiate the FA Cup final is a clear goal set out by referees.

These goals start with becoming qualified, officiating 20 games at grassroots, achieving promotion, being awarded cup finals, this could be an U9’s through to local adults Sunday league. With promotion the competitions become more esteemed, with ever increasing numbers of spectators and in the modern day more finals will be filmed and available across the internet or TV. The ultimate domestic goal has to be the FA Cup final, and it's a huge achievement and acknowledgement of how your season has gone to be awarded this illustrious final.

To make it an even bigger accolade you can only officiate the final once. 

In 1901 Arthur Kingscott walked the two teams out Sheffield United and Tottenham Hotspur in front of 110,000 fans. The wall of sound , the excitement of the final, an atmosphere like nothing you would have experienced before. Looking at more modern times Crowds vary from 85,000 to 90,000, in 1981 Spurs played MCFC , this included a replay where 192,000 people attended between the two games.

Referees also take part in the eve of the final rally which is run by the Referees Association (RA), where the night before the match officials who have been awarded this amazing honour attend a meeting of members of the RA for a great evening, a talk and questions giving referees who are starting on their referee a journey to visit the top officials. In doing so these referees are inspired to aim for this amazing game.

In a few weeks the final will be played, at the moment of writing it looks like it will be the silent final. No eve of the final rally, no 90,000 spectators. How will the pre-match be handled and the amazing “Abide with me?”

Out of the so called big 6 clubs, Arsenal have already qualified and either Manchester United or Chelsea will join them, could it be the battle of the two most successful FA cup winning teams of all time. It would be an amazing honour to referee such an amazing iconic game. 

What about the match officials, will their family be allowed to attend, will they only get the final the once? Could they use someone who's already had the final with this final being totally different and return to the single appointment after this has all finished? 

The FA will have a huge choice to make, if you give it to someone who has already expereinced the FA cup in all its glory, which means the memory they finish will be the silent game, or allow someone new to officiate but allow them the chance to officiate the final again at a later date giving them all the emotions officiating the final deserves. With the bonus they have officiated the game twice in the middle. 

Still an amazing game to be appointed to the final would be a dream come true no matter who you are, but the special occasion needs to be everything this most iconic trophy deserves. 

 The Silent Game