A YOUNG boy's dream of playing a cup final at the Manor has been dashed because his dad was the man in the middle in the semi-final.

Class 3 referee Leigh Thompson was appointed by the B-Line Oxford Boys League to officiate in an under 12 cup semi-final against Swindon Robins, a match in which his 12-year-old son was involved.

"I had to tell David that the game would have to be replayed because his daddy is being called a cheat," Leigh said.

"It's breaking my heart, and the bottom line is that it's the kids who will suffer. I would rather burn my kit than cheat."

Northway defeated Swin-don Robins 3-1 last month, but a joint meeting of the Oxon and Wilts FAs deemed the tie should be replayed.

"I made Robins aware of my position before the game and offered them the chance to call it off," Leigh recalled.

"The Robins manager, whose son acted as one of my assistants, said the game could go ahead, but he wanted his objections noted.

"I was continually barracked by Robins supporters but, after the game, Frank Alstrop, their assistant manager, apologised for the ''sorry behaviour' and said that I had done nothing wrong."

Leigh's distress was heightened when, accompanied by a representative from the Referees Association, they were refused entry to the appeal meeting.

"The OFA had an opportunity to back up one of their referees and they did the dirty on him," he blasted.

Strangely, Robins were allowed representatives, but Northway, like Leigh, were barred from giving their side of the story.

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