My Life on the Line

Gavin Muge was born in Harpenden, Hertfordshire, and grew up in nearby Chiltern Green. When he was five, he began his lifelong devotion to football, watching Match of the Day and The Big Match every weekend. His first live game confirmed his undying allegiance to Luton Town FC. Although a keen schoolboy player, he realised his talents would only take him so far and he started refereeing youth matches in the Luton area at the age of 15. This led to a passion for life with a whistle and a flag. A good job in sports and leisure management allowed him to pursue a parallel career in football, and after a lot of hard work he progressed through the ranks to reach the National List of Assistant Referees in 2008. In nine seasons on the Football League line, Gavin officiated in over 250 matches, experiencing the highs and lows of the professional game. He retired from the National List in 2017, happily returning to the lower levels of non-League football, and now helps to develop the next generation of referees as a Mentor for the Bedfordshire Football Association.

Introduction
PART 1 A FOOTBALL SELF-PORTRAIT.
Chapter 1: Hatters' Tea Party
Me, Eric Morecambe and a Lifelong Commitment to Luton Town FC
Chapter 2: Playing Peak
Me, Gary Lineker and the Player of the Year Award
Chapter 3: Pitch Battles
Me, Millwall and the Way it was Then
Chapter 4: Maturity
Me, Gazza and Marriage

PART 2 SIDELINE OR FRONT LINE?
Chapter 5: Earning My Stripes
Rungs on the Ladder
Chapter 6: Match Day
'Arsene Wenger's having a party/Bring your vodka and your Charlie'
Chapter 7: "Look at the Bizzies"
The Riot of Upton Park, Part 1
Chapter 8: "If we leave, we won't be coming back"
The Riot of Upton Park, Part 2

PART 3 WITHIN TOUCHING DISTANCE?
Chapter 9: No Time to be Star Struck
Me, Roy Keane, Paulo Di Canio & a Bollocking from Mark Noble
Chapter 10: The Long and Winding Road
Nearly There
Chapter 11: The Best Party
Reflections on a Career

PART 4 THE UNOFFICIAL GUIDE TO LIFE AS A FOOTBALL
OFFICIAL.
Chapter 12: 1863 and All That
The Laws of the Game and how we got them
Chapter 13: So You Want to be a Referee's Assistant
A Few Insights
Chapter 14: We Need to Talk About VAR
Cure-All or Confusion?

PART 5 THE WIDER VIEW.
Chapter 15: Match Officials in World Cup History
The Hand of God, etc
Chapter 16: Where are We Now and Where Are we Going?
A Brighter Future with some changes to the Game
Chapter 17: Match Fixing & the Power of Money
Stuff Happens

PART 6 EXTRA TIME.
Chapter 18: Gavin's Football Quiz
Answers at the Back
Chapter 19: Fun Stuff
Jokes, Quotes and Anecdotes
Chapter 20: Poetry in Motion
That Goal

APPENDIX.
Being a Match Official - The Details
Links to YouTube Clips
Bibliography
Acknowledgements
Author profiles