Top Bloke of the Season, Nominee A: Martin Atkinson

Thank you, Martin Atkinson, for refusing to believe that Paolo Di Canio could possibly have any grasp of sarcasm, and for fully exploiting the opportunity to send him to the stands.

Di Canio so often thinks himself the smartest person in the room - or stadium - but this was happily exposed as a fantasy through Mr Atkinson's beautiful refusal to indulge the Italian's childishness.

Given the ceaseless torrent of abuse we all send the way of  match officials, it's only right to not to overlook an opportunity to take your hat off to them in congratulation of a job well done.  I take back everything - mostly everything - I must have bellowed at you from the terraces over the years.  Until next time, of course.

Martin Atkinson.  Top bloke.

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Photo credit: Кондратенко Наталия