WHEN will you give this Saturday's game some thought? Perhaps over your third mouthful of dupiaza at two o'clock Saturday morning in a dingy backstreet of your chosen town.

Perhaps at eleven the next morning when you've finally committed your pin to the 3.30pm at Newmarket.

Luckily for you the man in black's preparation will have been more extensive. It will have started when he received notification of the fixture a month earlier.

He will know he is available having closed unavailable days with his preferred leagues. He will confirm the fixture with the appointment secretary by return either in writing, verbally, or electronically.

He may receive correspondence with the home club which he is obliged to acknowledge.

In the days leading up to the game he may be required to make contact with colleagues if neutral assistants are involved.

He will ensure his kit is in pristine nick, his boots are bereft of last week's mud, and his shirt and tie bear testimony to the merits of starch.

His bag is packed Friday night and he may have discussed the fixture with other officials. Is there any history? Which players can he talk to?

Are there any implications if the result goes a certain way?

He will arrive at the venue while you're still searching for your errant boot. His pitch inspection will be thorough.

He will brief his colleagues extensively when appropriate. While you're getting changed he will be inspecting your boots and ensuring that jewellery and other illegal equipment is removed.

Five minutes to kick off you're ready for your afternoon's activity. The referee is about to conclude a job he's been working on for weeks.

Refereeing is not about 90 minutes every week. As I've said before, it's a full time job which most of us have to balance alongside another one and of course our families. Fifteen quid just about covers it don't you think?