THE CATFLAP CHINWAG WITH...

Jeff Winter

 

What was the most daunting ground to referee at?

I always used to find going to St. Andrews was one of those grounds where the fans still appear to be very close to the pitch. I refereed a League Cup semi-final there against Ipswich, and every goal they were on the field in the corners, and I was thinking if Birmingham don't win this I don't know whether I'll get out of here alive.

 

What's the best chant or heckle aimed at you?

I remember refereeing Newcastle v Blackburn when both sets of fans at the same time joined in with 'You don't know what you're doing', and you start to think to yourself, well they can't all be f***ing wrong!

 

What was your biggest mistake?

I was quite lucky in that, if you mention Paul Alcock, people will say he's the one that Di Canio pushed over, if you say Andy D'Urso, they'll say he's the one that Roy Keane chased and if you say Graham Poll they'll think of three yellow cards. So in some respects, while I obviously made mistakes and got decisions wrong, I didn't have a mega one that people can hang their hat on and say "oh that's Winter".

 

So did you have any sympathy for Poll when he made his three-card trick at the World Cup?

As a referee yes, as a person no. Let's just leave it at that, but he probably speaks highly of me as well!

 

Alan Smith was given a straight red the other night for dissent. It's a while since we've seen that. What do you think he said?

Knowing Alan Smith it would have been foul-mouthed and very personal. I can only assume it's gone over the top. It's not what's said it's how it's said most of the time.