Chaos in League Two as club asks if any FANS can officiate after linesman gets injured on opening weekend
A surreal scene unfolded midway through the first half at the Croud Meadow, where play was halted in the 26th minute after linesman Scott Chaulkley was unable to continue.
With no spare officials available, the fourth official stepped in to run the line – leaving nobody to oversee substitutions or manage the technical areas. That prompted a remarkable moment, as the public address system issued an urgent call for help: was there a qualified referee in the crowd?
As players returned to the changing rooms and confusion reigned, Bromley's social media team offered a blow-by-blow account of the chaos, posting: 'The PA announcer is now asking for a qualified referee. Football is back, ladies and gentlemen.'
A follow-up update read: 'Right, there is nothing to report. We are still waiting for a qualified official. In the meantime, how's everyone doing this afternoon? Good?'
After a 17-minute delay, the solution finally arrived – in the form of Alan Cork, a Shrewsbury fan and Level 5-qualified referee, who stepped out of the stands to take over as fourth official.
Due to the delay caused by an injured linesman, there were 17 minutes of first-half added time
Shrewsbury celebrated Cork's intervention with a picture and message on X (formerly Twitter): 'Shout-out to our new fourth official for the afternoon! Thanks for saving the day, Alan.'
Once play resumed, 17 additional minutes were added on to the end of the first half – but neither side could find a breakthrough.
John Marquis and George Nurse both went close for the hosts, while Marcus Dinanga saw two first-half efforts for Bromley either ruled out or sent wide.
Shrewsbury boss Michael Appleton handed out multiple debuts, including a start for forward Anthony Scully.
Attendance at the Croud Meadow was 5,809, including 280 away fans.
This wasn't the only League Two fixture to suffer disruption on the opening day.
Newport County's 1-1 draw with Notts County was delayed by an hour after a medical emergency in the stands. Two air ambulances landed on the pitch at Rodney Parade before the game eventually kicked off at 4pm.
Once it got going, the visitors started brightly but fell behind early in the second half when Gerard Garner nodded in from close range following a long throw.
Jodi Jones drew Notts level from the penalty spot just after the hour mark, after Matt Baker was penalised for dragging down Matthew Dennis in the box.
Both sides had chances to win it — Michael Reindorf struck the post for Newport — but had to settle for a point apiece.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
South Wales Guardian
14 minutes ago
- South Wales Guardian
Chris Woakes ‘all in' and will bat with dislocated shoulder if needed
For the fifth Test in a row, the game is going all the way to the final day after a nerve-wracking fourth evening left all results possible. Brilliant centuries from Root (105) and Harry Brook (111) had England cruising towards a remarkable chase, set fair on 301 for three hunting 374, but they lost three late wickets to leave things in the balance. Bad light and rain halted a thrilling conclusion in its tracks, with England needing 35 runs and India seeking four more wickets. Look who's in his whites in the dressing room 👀 — England Cricket (@englandcricket) August 3, 2025 One of those belongs to Woakes, who has not featured since badly damaging his left shoulder while fielding on Friday. He was ruled out of the game the next morning but has remained with the team and is willing to bat at number 11 with his arm in a sling if required. 'You probably saw him in his whites in the dressing room. He's all in, like the rest of us,' said Root. 'Clearly, he's in a huge amount of pain. But it means a huge amount to him and it just shows the character and the person that he is, that he's willing to put his body on the line like that for England. 'If it does come to that, hopefully he can get us across the line and win an incredible series.' Root was not surprised to see a dramatic end unfold after almost seven weeks of full-blooded battle but, having done a huge amount of the heavy lifting alongside Brook, still fancies England to triumph. 'It was always going to happen like this wasn't it? Just look at the first four games,' he said. 'It's been amazing to play in and quite fitting that we're going to get that kind of finish. It's been one hell of a series, one hell of a journey, and there's clearly confidence in our dressing room. I'd like to think we've got what we need to get across the line.' Root had earlier marked his 39th Test hundred, and third this summer, with a touching tribute to the late Graham Thorpe. The former Test batter, who took his own life last year, enjoyed a close relationship with Root during his time as England's assistant coach. When he reached three figures, Root produced one of the Thorpe-inspired white headbands Surrey have been selling to raise funds for the MIND mental health charity and wore it as he looked to the skies. 'That was on behalf of our team. It was just a thank you for everything that he's given the game of cricket, and given English cricket, on and off the field,' he said. 'It's been amazing to recognise everything that he's done as a player, as a coach, as a mentor, as a friend to the dressing room and to the game. 'It was really great to see the amount of love that there is for him and for his family.' India's quicks had found wonderful rhythm before the weather intervened and would probably have liked to try and finish the job while the mood was with them. A night's break and an extra use of the heavy roller could play into England's hands but a saturated outfield meant the tourists were not complaining about the umpires' decision. 'We can see it's pretty wet out there,' said bowling coach Morne Morkel. 'In a way that's out of our control so all we can focus on is doing a good warm-up in the morning, get the boys ready to get the ball in the right area and create a little bit of excitement again.'
Rhyl Journal
14 minutes ago
- Rhyl Journal
Chris Woakes ‘all in' and will bat with dislocated shoulder if needed
For the fifth Test in a row, the game is going all the way to the final day after a nerve-wracking fourth evening left all results possible. Brilliant centuries from Root (105) and Harry Brook (111) had England cruising towards a remarkable chase, set fair on 301 for three hunting 374, but they lost three late wickets to leave things in the balance. Bad light and rain halted a thrilling conclusion in its tracks, with England needing 35 runs and India seeking four more wickets. Look who's in his whites in the dressing room 👀 — England Cricket (@englandcricket) August 3, 2025 One of those belongs to Woakes, who has not featured since badly damaging his left shoulder while fielding on Friday. He was ruled out of the game the next morning but has remained with the team and is willing to bat at number 11 with his arm in a sling if required. 'You probably saw him in his whites in the dressing room. He's all in, like the rest of us,' said Root. 'Clearly, he's in a huge amount of pain. But it means a huge amount to him and it just shows the character and the person that he is, that he's willing to put his body on the line like that for England. 'If it does come to that, hopefully he can get us across the line and win an incredible series.' Root was not surprised to see a dramatic end unfold after almost seven weeks of full-blooded battle but, having done a huge amount of the heavy lifting alongside Brook, still fancies England to triumph. 'It was always going to happen like this wasn't it? Just look at the first four games,' he said. 'It's been amazing to play in and quite fitting that we're going to get that kind of finish. It's been one hell of a series, one hell of a journey, and there's clearly confidence in our dressing room. I'd like to think we've got what we need to get across the line.' Root had earlier marked his 39th Test hundred, and third this summer, with a touching tribute to the late Graham Thorpe. The former Test batter, who took his own life last year, enjoyed a close relationship with Root during his time as England's assistant coach. When he reached three figures, Root produced one of the Thorpe-inspired white headbands Surrey have been selling to raise funds for the MIND mental health charity and wore it as he looked to the skies. 'That was on behalf of our team. It was just a thank you for everything that he's given the game of cricket, and given English cricket, on and off the field,' he said. 'It's been amazing to recognise everything that he's done as a player, as a coach, as a mentor, as a friend to the dressing room and to the game. 'It was really great to see the amount of love that there is for him and for his family.' India's quicks had found wonderful rhythm before the weather intervened and would probably have liked to try and finish the job while the mood was with them. A night's break and an extra use of the heavy roller could play into England's hands but a saturated outfield meant the tourists were not complaining about the umpires' decision. 'We can see it's pretty wet out there,' said bowling coach Morne Morkel. 'In a way that's out of our control so all we can focus on is doing a good warm-up in the morning, get the boys ready to get the ball in the right area and create a little bit of excitement again.'
Daily Mail
15 minutes ago
- Daily Mail
Man United find possible solution to land battle to prevent delays to 100,000-seater new stadium project and new squad cost rules gather pace
Manchester United 's land battle with Freightliner rumbles on, but the club have a chance to ensure it does not delay their plans for a 100,000-capacity new home. Last month, Mail Sport revealed how the Premier League giants were miles apart from the owners of the rail terminal — which adjoins Old Trafford and is key to the project — over their valuation of the land. United sources, who believe the land is worth £40million, feel the company are attempting to cash in with a significantly higher valuation, and one solution could be a compulsory purchase order. However, Inside Sport understands United could acquire a portion of the land, which would allow them to build the stadium, then buy the rest down the line. United are hoping to be in their new home PSR OUT? PLANS to replace existing financial rules with a Squad Cost Ratio (SCR) — where the amount clubs can spend on wages and transfers is limited to a percentage of their revenue — appear to be gathering pace. Championship clubs will vote on Monday on whether to introduce mandatory reporting — which would force teams to submit financial information so the EFL can assess the potential effect of replacing profit and sustainability rules with SCR. The latter has already been adopted by UEFA. Championship clubs can currently lose up to £39m over a three-year period. EFL RECEIVE APOLOGY Sheffield Wednesday's supporters' trust have apologised to the EFL for making derogatory remarks about the organisation during a meeting of fans last week. The two groups have met recently to discuss the developing crisis at Wednesday under the ownership of Thai businessman Dejphon Chansiri. As Mail Sport reported, there are concerns Sunday's season opener at Leicester City could be under threat, although club sources are confident it will go ahead. Tensions are understandably high, and it is to be hoped a solution is found as soon as possible for an institution of English football. PREMIER LEAGUE AND PFA BLASTED Football Families for Justice (FFJ) — the campaign group calling on the sport to tackle its dementia crisis — have blasted a report released by the PFA and Premier League into the impact of the Football Brain Health Fund. The document hails the achievements of the fund, which has seen £2.3million allocated to 153 families since its launch in September 2023. John Stiles — son of World Cup winner Nobby, who died after a battle with dementia — described it as 'shameful'. 'The shocking report confirms the fund will only provide care after the player and family have secured whatever can be provided by the local authority and NHS, meaning the taxpayer and the players and families will generally pay for the care they need,' the former Leeds and Doncaster man said. 'The report is sly, smug and superficial. To have spent under £670,000 on care home costs over the two years is an appalling failure bearing in mind the refusal of the fund to provide the requisite care to the likes of Gordon McQueen, Jimmy Robson, Joe Kinnear, Chris Nicholl and many other very vulnerable ex-players. 'It is staggering to see (PFA chair) Maheta Molango's annual salary of £650,000 is only slightly less than the amount spent on care home costs over two years.' FFJ's campaign has secured assurances of support from the Prime Minister and Lisa Nandy, Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport. QATAR SHAKE UP 2036 RACE QATAR caught their Indian rivals — and the International Olympic Committee — off guard with the announcement of their bid to host the 2036 Olympics. Qatar are clearly keen for a competitive race, like the good old days when London and Paris duked it out for the 2012 Olympics. Since then, the IOC have attempted to control the bid process, moving it from an election to a selection — which hurt Qatar's previous bid. But with new IOC boss Kirsty Coventry's commitment to review the process, Qatar seem keen to set the agenda, and will be a force to be reckoned with for India and any other bidders.
