Our best referees earn respect the old-fashioned way

I knew John Diamond because he came to our house to play 45.

I also knew him because he was a referee.

In a smoke-filled room of card players or in the wide-open spaces of a football pitch, his booming voice could fill the space with ease. He was equally at home in either environment. A big man, a big character, he had his own way of doing things, and that included refereeing.