Ref Watch: Chippenham Town (FA Cup)

Referee: Carl Brook
Assistant Referee: Dean Treleaven, Alex James
Fourth Official: Andrew Laver

We’ve not seen a lot of Carl Brook over his career – recently he took charge of our 2021/22 trip to Charlton last season,  and last season’s trip to Wimbledon that more or less confirmed our safety. The first game of ours he officiated was back in the 2016/17 season when we lost 2-0 to Boreham Wood.

Mr Brook was not promoted at the same time as us, but the following season he showed a red card nine times in just 22 matches; that’s well above average. He remained in the National League in 2018/19, where he showed eight reds in just 26 matches, which is still one every three games. I get the feeling he might like a red card here and there. He calmed down a bit in 2019/20, with just five in 20. With a falling ratio of almost one in two, then one in three, he arrived at one in four, which seems to be the pass rate for the Football League.

Officials: Brook appointed for Spurs U21s game - News - Stevenage Football  Club

He does like a card still – he’s flahsed 54 yellows in his 14 matches this season, but only one red. He sent off Hiram Boateng, who I cannot believe is at Mansfield, as they lost 5-2 at home to Swindon this weekend – he also awarded the visitors a penalty in that game.