Referee corner – roving reporter chats to Mark Daly after his referee return to action.

In December our referee corner feature was long serving GCFA referee Mark Daly but we return to Mark after his return to refereeing following freak accident while officiating in his last match last month at Holm Park.

First of all it was great to see Mark back in action after such a bad injury that led to him being hospitalised for a few days.

Mark is one of the most experienced GCFA referees we have on our currently roster of officials.

Daly has been there, seen it, done it and got the tee-shirt in terms of officiating within the Glasgow Colleges League Set up.

It was a bit of a shock to everyone concerned when we heard Mark was hospitalised during a GCFA match, Everyone was thankful to have the whistler return to the pitch a few weeks later.

Hi mark, how was it like to return to refereeing after your injury scare

It was great to be back to normality.

Can you explain how incident happened in the game you got injured

It was a freak accident. I was moving backwards and Clydebank player had his eyes on the ball and caught me on the top of the spine.

So how long were you in hospital and in recovery?

I was in hospital for 4 days and took 3 weeks away from football.

How are you feeling after refereeing the Rutherglen Glencairn v PSP top of league clash yesterday?

I really enjoyed it. It was a well contested game.

Yesterday fixture was excellent game highlighting best of GCFA (including refereeing standards), did you think PSP would come back from 2 nil down to win 4-2.

As said I really enjoyed it as a well contested game. Glencairn looked very comfortable but when PSP scored their first from a corner kick Glencairn seemed to lose their way.

And finally anything you would like to add

NHS were superb with me. They couldn’t have done anymore for me.

Was good to see Mark back in action & as always so approachable with big smile when approached.

Officiated this top of league clash in his usual calm consistent manner, talking to players & majority of time addressing them by their name which is good touch by any referee.

Good to see him back

Original Referee corner interview

One of our social media team took in the PSP v Clydeside premier league cup tie solely as spectator but felt referee Mark Daly contributed so much to a good game that we caught up with him to highlight a referee constantly spoke of as one of the best.

Hi Mark, what did you think of draw & who did you think was Man or the match today?

Very well contested game and draw about fair

Clarky for Clydeside.

Although he played only 1 half,he was a standout

What has been your career in GCFA ?

I started refereeing in GCFA,in 2003.

I left for a number of years and have been back officiating in the League,for the last 2 1/2 years.

Any games stand out during your career?

Campsite Black Watch v Knightswood 21s, 2007/8 season.

League decider.

Campsie went down to 10 men,before half time and score at the time,was 0.0,but still went on to win the game,2.1.

21s football at that time,was outstanding

What was your journey to refereeing& football activity currently ?

I played Amateur football,but had a problem with my knee and decided to call it a day.

Referee,who had officiated a lot of my games,over the years,asked if I had considered refereeing.

I laughed at first,but after consideration,I decided to give it a go.

I’ve been involved in football from a young age.

I’ve played,managed and now as my role,as a match official.,

I love going to watch football,with my daughters.

When watching a game do you find yourself focusing on referee performance ?

I try and switch off.

Not all the time,though.😂

Any players stand out in your GCFA career (we gave PSP retired Joe Cranston& long term injured Paddy Woods as examples)

I remember refereeing Joe,when he played for St.Davids and Paddy,when he played for Pollok 21s.Both terrific players.

The standard of player,within the GCFA,is of a high level and their is too many to say.

A diplomatic answer.😂

Have you or game changed much as a referee over the years ?

There hasn’t been a great deal of change,

but the longer you referee,you start to relax more and enjoy it more.

I think,if you can talk to players and they listen,as they don’t always,it makes officiating a match,so much easier.

Funniest moment as a referee?

Refereeing a game at Bellsmyre,Dumbarton and had to stop the game 4 times,as a a spectators pit bull kept running on the park and on one of those occasions,

§💩on the park.

What are your thoughts on Var

I’m not the biggest advocate of VAR.

I think it slows the game down,in certain instances and some of the decisions are baffling.

Hopefully,as time goes bye,it’ll sort itself out

Have other referees supported you over the years with advice etc ?

There has been a few and was thankful for their advice, especially when I first started

Since we started referee corner Mark has consistently featured in our referee of week feature & when we ask others about best referees etc you see he is respected by all within GCFA

To referee this highly anticipated cup tie between two top Premier clubs, Mark used all his experience to calmly keep game flowing & at tense times talk to both players & sidelines calmly.

On way back to dressing room he had Freindly banter with both players & spectators which is always nice to see & highlighted again the respect he got after a good game.