Football family Robertson team up on refereeing front

Apr 22 2009 by Mel Booth, Huddersfield Daily Examiner

IMAGINE a scenario where you have cooked Easter lunch and you are shown the red card not just once but on three occasions.

It is not because the meal was substandard – but a humorous gesture because you have a husband and two sons who are football referees.

That is the reality for Therese Robertson, 44, of Marsh, Huddersfield.

Her partner, Michael, 44, is a fully-trained official who takes charge of games in the District League, and sons, Luke, 16, and Jacob, 15, both qualified referees, officiate in the Huddersfield Junior League.

Therese said: “The fact they are all referees certainly makes dinnertime conversation good!”

But, speaking about the impact mealtime-talk had on both her and daughter Francesca, 12, she joked: “It can get a bit much sometimes.

“My daughter, for instance, will often laugh and ask if we can leave home.”

Luke, who is studying A-levels at Greenhead College, and Jacob, preparing for his GCSEs at All Saints College in Bradley, both completed the full referee course held at Newsome Sports College last month.

They excelled in the course with Jacob achieving the best marks out of all the candidates, shortly followed by Luke in third.

Luke said since completing the course he had so far officiated in two games and, along with his brother, had been an assistant referee for an under 18s semi-final match played on Leeds Road.

“If things went well I would like to take charge of games at a senior level. I’m enjoying myself at the moment,” added Luke.