🎇 The GCFA Hogmanay hero 🎇: The experienced whistler

After Hogmanay Heroes, we follow up with contributors to keep the story moving — not to revisit recognition, but to check in on how things look as the season resumes.

This follow-up comes from a referee perspective, offering a view from the middle as the season moves into its second half.

After more than four decades with a whistle in hand, how has this season felt for you compared to others?

With the advent of each new season there are always fresh challenges and new beginnings for everyone associated with the League and this season has been no exception. However season 2025/26 also saw the GCFA set up completely revamped and the opportunity to referee games across College League, Under 19s and Under 21s set up.

Personally I approach each game with the attitude of “referee what’s in front of you” and this has stood me in good stead over the years. Given the increased levels of scrutiny and demands of the modern game at all levels, the need for us refs to be physically and mentally “on the ball” has never been greater….

As we head into the second half of the campaign, what do you expect from the months ahead — from referees, players, and the league as a whole?

I’ve always associated the post festive period as going into the business end of the season with games taking on added significance in terms of promotion, relegation, play offs and cup finals. For refs, players and the League as a whole this means that added bit of a physical and mental boost to deal with all the attendant pressures these bring….

Across the matches you’ve been involved in this season, has anyone stood out to you — a player, a team, or even a moment that sums up why you keep coming back?

In all of my 8 seasons in the GCFA set up, there’s always been a noticeable and significant increase in the standard of the leagues whether it bring new teams joining us or established GCFA teams going above and beyond previous seasons’ achievement.
This season has not only seen this continue in abundance but also seen the emergence of teams such as Remo FC with Jack Graham scoring hat tricks regularly and several of our long standing teams, eg Burnhill FC, doing really well. These to me are indicative of the high quality of teams and players we have in our set up…

Finally, any bold calls or quiet predictions for how the rest of the GCFA season plays out?

Those who know me well know how awful I am with predictions however one thing I will stick my mortgage on is that we are going to witness an epic remainder of the season throughout the leagues and Cup competitions.

A quiet thank you to the clubs, managers, players, and officials who featured during our mid-season coverage — from Hogmanay Heroes through to the follow-ups like this one.

Different roles, different perspectives — all helping show how the season carries on once the fixtures resume and the pressure builds.

We’ll keep listening, keep checking back in, and keep giving space to the voices that help explain Scottish amateur football from every angle.