News

Euro 2012 team ready for finals

Thursday, 07 June 2012

John Fleming, the Scottish FA’s Head of Referee Development, believes Craig Thomson and his refereeing team will enjoy a successful Euro 2012 finals tournament after describing their season as their “best and most consistent to date”.

The team, consisting of Thomson, Derek Rose, Alasdair Ross, William Collum and Euan Norris, arrived in Warsaw on Monday to begin a technical training camp ahead of their first appointment at the competition being held in Poland and Ukraine over the summer.

Thomson, who refereed at a UEFA Europa League semi-final in April, will be the first Scottish referee to lead a team of officials to a major international finals in 10 years.

They are expected to officiate at their first match next week and Fleming thinks they are in good shape following an excellent season both domestically and internationally and months of hard work with the sports science department at the Hampden Park Sports Medicine Centre.

He said: “The team have had a very good season, their best and most consistent to date, and I am confident they will perform to a very high standard at the European Championships this summer.

“Craig and his team are tremendously hard-working and their appointment to this tournament is a result of their dedication to refereeing and is thoroughly deserved.

“They have worked together a lot this season and that will bode well for them in their matches. They have been putting in extra hours on the training field and have been using sports science and sports psychology to ensure they are in peak condition for going to Poland and Ukraine.

“To be selected as one of only 12 teams from around Europe to officiate at the tournament is a great compliment to refereeing in Scotland and we should be proud of what they have achieved.”