Source: Daily_Mail
Graham Poll: Workhorse Webb must take a break
When Howard Melton Webb leads the teams on to the new pitch at Wembley at 2.50pm today to control the FA Cup final, he will do so safe in the knowledge that he is England's No1 referee.
You would think that, given the FA refereeing department's policy to appoint the best official available for each and every game, the No1 would always take charge of this showpiece event.
However, a referee handles only one FA Cup final, so Chelsea and Everton should appreciate that this year, availability and form dictate that Webb is in charge.
His stature and fitness are the stand-out reasons for his status, but there is so much more to the 37-year-old Rotherham policeman. His dedication to his profession is incredible; he trains hard to maintain his fitness and imposing physique.
He is currently on a five-year sabbatical from his job as a police sergeant and has been travelling the world in his quest to emulate Jack Taylor and be recognised as the best referee across the globe - not just his own country.
It is that dedication and determination which could be his achilles heel; I am not alone in being concerned at just how busy Webb has been this season.
How many players were on the field for every minute of 35 Premier League games and attended others as a very active substitute (fourth official)?
On top of that, Webb controlled nearly 20 other games, right up from League Two through to FIFA World Cup qualifiers, culminating in a Champions League quarter-final in Barcelona and a UEFA Cup semi-final in Bremen.
When UEFA held two meetings in Spain and Switzerland for their top referees, he attended both. Webb also attended FIFA seminars as he maintained his position on the ever decreasing shortlist for South Africa 2010. As a member of that list, he flies to Johannesburg tomorrow for a week's course for nominated World Cup Final referees.
Webb stays in South Africa for three more weeks, preparing to officiate in the Confederations Cup which runs from June 14-28. He has not had a summer off since 2005, refereeing at the final competitions of UEFA Under-21s in Portugal 2006, FIFA's World Under-20s in Canada 2007 and in Austria/Switzerland for Euro 2008.
He will have officiated at more than 250 games since August 2005 by the end of World Cup 2010.
Fatigue can take its toll and I've missed Webb's personality and smile from too many games this season, and at times seen him drop below his very high standards.
This afternoon there will be no chance of that as Webb achieves his domestic refereeing dream, watched closely by his father Bill, a former referee.
My thoughts, too, will be with Mrs Kay Webb who, while supporting her husband, will be looking forward to an evening meal with him, even if it will be in the company of FA refereeing hierarchy and precedes another month when her husband will be missing from home and missing his three young children.
The life of a top referee is an exciting and often exhilarating rollercoaster ride; his dedication has earned him his 'day in the sun'. His family of supporters also deserve a moment to reflect on the sacrifices they have made, and I trust Webb's performance will afford them that.
