NOW I KNOW ALL THE RULES

Trophy winner to top cop and assistant referee

- DAVID RICHARDSON

STEVE Parmenter still remembers the mid-game exchange with a referee that inspired him to become one.

As he charged into the penalty area for Canvey Island, reviewing the man in black’s performance as a ‘mare’, the official Phil Crossley simply replied with, “go and learn the laws”.

So that’s what Parmenter did and over a decade later he’s now officiating in the National League and the U23 ‘Premier League 2’.

“The last game I officiated on the Premier League 2, which was Brighton v Manchester City, the observer, who comes to watch how we’re doing, it was him! Every time I see Phil I say to him it’s your fault I’m refereeing!” laughs Parmenter. “He’s such a nice lad and a really good ref.”

The fateful backchat came at a time when Canvey Island were becoming one of Non-League’s big names backed by the finance of local businessman and manager-owner Jeff King.

Parmenter, a versatile midfielder-striker, had dropped out of the Football League after playing for Bristol Rovers under Ian Holloway and joined midway through the 1998-99 season as Canvey won promotion to the Isthmian Premier.

At the turn of the millennium, the club was put on the map. They won the FA Trophy at Aston Villa, beating Forest Green Rovers 1-0, while also reaching the FA Cup second round where they lost to local rivals Southend United having seen off Port Vale after a replay following a 4-4 draw.

Distraction