CBC-Sports

Christmas comes early for EPL ref

December 27, 2009 11:04 PM | Posted by   Nigel Reed  

‘Tis the season – even for the man in the middle.

Christmas, it appears, came early this year for Mark Halsey. In truth it couldn’t come early enough for one of the most experienced referees in the English Premier League.

Not that Mark’s been doing much refereeing of late. Indeed, he took charge of only one game this season before the bottom dropped out of his world.

At the age of 48, and embarking on his final season before retirement, Halsey was suddenly an indiscriminate victim of cancer.

As he walked out at Goodison Park to referee Everton’s home opener against Arsenal in August, Halsey knew it would be his final game for a while. The devastating news had been delivered just days before the season began – the operation to remove a cancerous tumour from his throat followed immediately.

More surgery and chemotherapy was necessary when the growth reappeared but Halsey is made of stern stuff. The former taxi driver and semi-professional keeper has set himself a goal which is being vigorously pursued: he wants to referee the FA Cup Final at Wembley next May.

It is somewhat surprising Halsey has never been given the honour. He’s been a top grade referee since 1999 and joined FIFA’s elite list the following year.

Yet, despite being the 4th official at the 2002 final, he has never been chosen to preside over English soccer’s season ending showpiece.

A few weeks before Christmas, following radiotherapy at The Christie Hospital in Manchester, Halsey finally heard the news he craved: the cancer was in remission.

He has kept himself in shape in the belief a healthy lifestyle will accelerate his recovery. Now he’s pushing himself to return to match fitness and get back on the field as soon as possible.

But Halsey’s not alone on his well-being crusade – his wife Michelle has been battling leukaemia for a year. Her condition was diagnosed last New Year’s Eve, hardly a fitting way to welcome 2009. As if either required a reason to beat cancer, their young daughter Lucy is all the incentive they need.

It is by no means certain Halsey will ever return to the fitness levels required of a professional referee but his sheer determination and willpower is an example of what can be achieved when faced with life-changing adversity.

When I settle down to watch the Cup Final next spring, I’ll make sure to make a note of the referee’s name.

Up-and-coming Canadian gets set for MLS Superdraft

It’s good to see another young Canadian prospect coming through the ranks of the American college system. 19-year-old Teal Bunbury, son of Canadian Hall-of-Famer Alex, has signed a Generation Adidas contract with Major League Soccer and will likely be among the top draft picks in Philadelphia next month.

Like his father, Teal is a tall striker and led Akron University to this year’s NCAA College Cup Final. Along the way he scored 17 goals and added five assists – a series of performances which led him to be shortlisted for the MAC Hermann Trophy, an award previously won by Toronto FC striker O’Brian White.

TFC boss Mo Johnston will know all about the young Bunbury but is unlikely to get a chance to nab him at the draft. Wheeling and dealing notwithstanding, Johnston and new coach Preki get only two picks at the 2010 Superdraft and not a single bite at the cherry until the second round. By then, Bunbury will surely be long gone.

The youngster has already represented Canada at the U-17 and U-20 levels and is now the same age Alex was when he won his first senior cap, a matter of weeks after Canada’s only appearance at the World Cup in 1986. If he's half as good as his dad, Teal Bunbury will be a name to watch over the next few years.

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