Kentfa.com: How did you become interested in refereeing?
Steve Bennett: Through teaching really - the qualification was useful for officiating school matches.
Kentfa.com: Who was your inspiration when moving up the refereeing ladder?
Steve Bennett: There have been some excellent referees over past years but the one which I admired most was George Courtney – he made it look incredibly easy!
Kentfa.com: Can you remember your first game?
Steve Bennett: My first match was in the Sidcup & District League (a league which unfortunately now ceases to exist) – I think it might have been Harris Queensway v Daylight, the score was something like 6-4.
Kentfa.com: What is the highlight of your career so far?
Steve Bennett: There have been so many – but I would say being on the panel of UEFA’s Top 25 Elite Referees in Europe and of course representing England when officiating around the world.
Kentfa.com: What is the funniest moment of a game you have been involved in?
Steve Bennett: Probably in the Champions League match at Real Madrid when they played FC Porto. After 65 minutes a spectator ran onto the field and chained himself to the goalpost and for good measure handcuffed himself to the goalkeeper.
Kentfa.com: Are there any laws of the game you would like to be changed?
Steve Bennett: I would like to see the authorities retrospectively punish players for blatant cheating i.e. diving or feigning injury – its virtually impossible to tell on occasions whether players are genuinely playing within the spirit of ‘Fair Play’
Kentfa.com: What is the best game you have officiated and why?
Steve Bennett: Probably my visit to Thimphu which is situated in the Himalayan Kingdom of Bhutan– the match an ‘A’ International fixture, Bhutan v Montserrat played on the 30th June 2002 was the only other fixture being played that day in the world, other than the World Cup Final in Japan.
Kentfa.com: How do you deal with criticism?
Steve Bennett: Criticism will always be aimed at referees mainly because the majority do not understand or have knowledge of the Laws of the Game. Referees will give what they see – until a camera is placed between a referees eyes know one will ever appreciate what the referee has witnessed and why he gives what he does.
Kentfa.com: What is your aim from now until you retire?
Steve Bennett: Although I have been involved in two FA Cup Finals, as a Linesman in 1995 (Everton v Manchester United) and as a 4th official in 2001 (Arsenal v Liverpool), it would be fantastic to be able to complete the ‘hat-trick by refereeing the Final. (Follwoing this interview Steve was appointed Referee for the 2007 FA Cup Final).
kentfa.com: How do you think England will do at the World Cup?
Steve Bennett: I think they have a very good opportunity of progressing to the later stages of the tournament – depending on who qualifies from the other groups, I expect they could go on to probably the semi-finals.
Kentfa.com: What advice would you give to someone considering taken up refereeing?
Steve Bennett: To enjoy what you do and have your own personality. Try and do the basics correctly and gradually understand that being able to ‘read the game’ will give you so many attributes needed to reach the highest level.
Kentfa.com thanks Steve for his time and wishes him all the best for the future.
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