Football - Professional referee ends his career with a performance on the biggest stage

Ref's Wembley finale

Many people dream of finishing their football career at Wembley Stadium, but not many people would relish the challenge of being the referee there.
But Peter Foakes is not most people and he ended his 21-year career as a professional referee on the biggest stage of them all, in charge of the 1995 Division One play-off final when Bolton Wanderers won a dramatic game against Reading Town 4v3 in extra time to gain a place in the Premier League.
"I remember the TV commentator Brian Moore wishing me luck before the game and mentioning it was my final appearance in his commentary for ITV," recalls Peter.
Peter also says that his Christian faith helped him to cope with the big match pressures which referees face week after week: "My faith gave me a confidence at the big games that no matter what the players and fans threw at me I would be able to cope. I used to have a quiet prayer before games to help me to prepare for them.

Peter Foakes referees a match between Norwich City and Chelsea in 1991.

Referee

"But I think that things are much more difficult for referees today because every top game has TV cameras there and each incident is played over and over again. That is what puts the extra pressure on today's referees. In fact I believe that there is a higher standard of refereeing today because the game is much faster, with more money involved and a win at all costs attitude."
Peter, aged 53, from Frinton in Essex, trained as a referee as part of his job as a PE teacher. He first got involved in refereeing while he was playing for Clacton Town in the Eastern Counties League: "I would play for Town on the Saturday and then referee Sunday league games the next day," he said. "Then somebody told me I had potential as a referee and said I should take it up more seriously. So I did."
Towards the end of his 21-year career, Peter refereed for two years in the Premier League and also remembers officiating at a number of games involving Norwich City. One particular game stands out in his mind. It was the final season of the old Football League First Division in November 1991 when the Canaries produced a great performance to beat Chelsea 3-0 at Stamford Bridge.
"I remember the game particularly for two great goals scored by Robert Fleck. I think they probably helped to secure his transfer to Chelsea shortly afterwards," said Peter. "I also ran the line at Carrow Road when Norwich played Manchester United just after Alex Ferguson had first become their manager.
Peter is a teacher at Colbayns High School, in Clacton-on-Sea, and it was through the influence of a colleague there that he began to take an interest in Christianity. A few weeks before his marriage to his second wife, Fiona, he was asked to help with staffing a summer residential course. He shared a room at the centre in Dinas Powis with colleague Aubrey Cardy.
Seeing Aubrey reading a Bible passage every morning provoked Peter to ask questions about his faith as they walked through the beautiful South Wales countryside. Gradually Peter began to read the Bible for himself and to attend services at Frinton Free Church.
Peter's wife, Fiona, also decided to find out more. She joined an Alpha course and became a Christian herself. They were both baptised on Easter Sunday 1998 and are involved in a sports ministry group at their church. Last January, when the ITV Sunday morning service was broadcast from Frinton, Peter and Fiona were able to tell their story to thousands of viewers around the country.

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