RE: The only foul committed in the box and not even a yellow card nt I honestly think that Willard must have had some kind of death wish.
Hansen... was very supportive of us in the Match of the Day commentary. Willard was not formally disciplined at the time, but it is of significance that he refereed very few games after that one and mysteriously was removed from the referees' list soon after the end of the season. Any investigative journalists out there who could find out what were the real reasons he was removed? If you recall, it all got very political around that time, with MPs getting their spoke in and it all got very emotional about fairness and justice. Just wonder if Willard came to that game with a view of his own on matters and proceeded to show that politics and sport shouldn't mix. It was a very strange refereeing performance, especially when he left the field and also left his assistants still out there, wondering what on earth they should do. Final memory - I used to judge the final whistle to the second and could leap out of my west stand seat on to the steps and be on the M1 home by 5.00pm (it was three hours home) - I usually just beat the crush on the steps, but that day, I leapt and no-one else moved - everyone else stayed to boo the ref as he came down the tunnel.
Wasnt The real reason he was removed was he gave 3 yellows to same player in some dutch competition or uefa cup?
Never seen a ground with so many fans wanting to get to the Ref. Our seat that season was in the left lower corner of the Ponty (About row E) and loads of fans attempted to get onto the pitch. I was 14, and my dad thought I was going to go for it at some point.
