THE referee at Reading Women FC's recent match at Manchester City was labelled an 'idiot' by a national newspaper this week.

And the FA appear to agree as they have been suspended him for three weeks.

David McNamara did not do anything seriously wrong during the Super League fixture, but it was what happened before the kick-off that got him into trouble.

He forgot to take out a coin for the toss-up and so, bizarrely, allowed Royals skipper Kirsty Pearce and City's Steph Houghton to take part in a round of rock, paper and scissors in the middle of the pitch to determine which team would kick-off the match.

The Daily Mail described it as a fiasco with award-winning columnist Martin Samuel saying the ref was an idiot, adding: "It sounds funny. It isn't funny."

Samuel went on: "If a league is super, it doesn't start with a nursery charade."

  • READING-BASED Liam Ferdinand and Mitchell Parker scored all the goals as the England FA representative team came from 2-0 down to beat the British Forces South Atlantic Islands 3-2 in the second of their two matches in the Falkland Islands last Sunday.

Ferdy, who plays for Bracknell Town, bagged a brace, while Parker, now with Basingstoke Town, fired home from the penalty spot.

Former Reading City striker Parker had also skippered the side when they defeated the Island team 3-1 on Saturday.

It must have been a memorable trip for all the players who made the long journey.

Parker tweeted: "What a week it's been! To captain your country at any level is an honour to score and to play alongside Ferdy who goes and gets a couple."

  • A BRIGHTER and more solid future for Reading Cricket and Hockey Club could be shaped this evening (Thursday).

They have called an extraordinary general meeting with members being asked to vote on a new constitution and a service agreement for operating the clubhouse and grounds at Sonning Lane.

Members have already been informed the club's overall financial position is quite healthy, but the running of the clubhouse remains an 'onerous burden'.

The cricket section has also been told they need to build up their financial reserves.