Michael is still a fox on the sideline
TRALEE man Michael ‘Fox’ O’Connor became a FAI Referee’s Observer in Kerry six years ago after a distinguishing career as a KDL referee.
A man with almost half a century of involvement in the game he fitted into the role very easily and is going around the county on a regular basis checking and documenting the performances of referees at KDL games.
He first got involved in the game back in 1968 at the famous inter firm tournament that were played at the Low Field at the back of The Brandon Hotel. At that time the referees on duty included, Gordon Kerins, Chris Nugent, Gordon Kerins, John Barrett, Frank Hennessy, John O’Sullivan Connie Griffin, Val Delaney and Batt O’Connor.
As it transpired it was this group of referees that went on to form the Kerry Referees Society in 1978 and progressed to officiate at Kerry District League games. Fox as he affectionately known to everyone is a fanatical Leeds United supporter and has travelled all over the world following the fortunes of the Republic of Ireland team since they qualified for Europe back in 1988.
He travelled to all the games during Jack Charlton managerial era and made many new friends in the process. He began his footballing career back in 1968 with Tralee Dynamos playing at full back. After a few years he became an associative referee but continued to play for his club.
He took a break from the whistle for a few years but was coaxed back in by the secretary of the KDL John O’Regan in 1994 when the KDL were running short of referees. He says he really enjoyed officiating at games in Kerry and made a lot of good friends along the way.
“My motto was to earn the respect of teams and their mentors and show them the respect they deserve while on the other hand I would expect them to respect me. I have led a healthy life as I never smoked or drank alcohol and put a lot of effort on staying fit.
“When I refereed a game I did not stand at the half-way line, but I followed the ball where ever it went which greatly helped my decision making during a game. I started out as a Grade 4 referee, but over the course of a few years I moved up to the top of the ladder as a Grade 1 official.
“I have seen a lot of changes over the years and it is great to see so many clubs having excellent facilities. I decided to hang up the whistle in 2008 shortly after my 60th birthday and I went out on a high refereeing a Cup Final and the first man to extend me best wishes after the game was my good friend Christy Leahy who told me a made the perfect exit.
“I found a bit of a void in my sporting life after retiring and deep down I decided I wanted to give something back to the game I have a great passion for. The opportunity came in 2012 when a vacancy arose for an FAI Soccer Observer in Kerry and I applied and got the job and got it.”
When the great manager in the sky calls Fox for his final Match of the Day he says his four favourite belongings will rest by him and they include in order, a Leeds United jersey, a photo of his idol Billy Bremner, a photo of Dickie Rock and his passport.
The three most important things he focused on during his refereeing career were his appearance, his fitness, and that he regarded every game he officiated as a Cup Final.
Fox is a very colourful and gregarious man who is a mine of information on everything about soccer. He is regarded by many as the memory man of the game in Kerry.