Referee speaks out following attack

Scarborough referee Bill Pashby is considering hanging up his whistle after he was attacked on the pitch at last night's Saturday League Trophy final.
Bill PashbyBill Pashby
Bill Pashby

The game, which took place at Pickering Town's Mill Lane, was abandoned after 82 minutes with Goalsports leading Eastway Sports 2-1.

A man has since been arrested by the police on suspicion of wounding with intent.

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Pashby sustained a nasty shoulder injury from the incident and is now pondering his future in a role that he loves.

He said: "This is the first time that anything like this has happened to me while I've been refereeing.

"I say it won't put me off, but my wife wants to me pack it in and I'm definitely having second thoughts about refereeing again.

"It is the dissent that puts you off. I am a former player trying to put a bit back into football and I love doing it, but it has got a lot worse.

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"Players think you have 25 Sky TV cameras on your head, but you are by yourself out there, which means that the losing team always blame you.

"There has been a lot of effort to bring younger referees through, they do it for about a year and then pack in because of the abuse they get.

"It is the same with the older refs, you just don't need it."

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