'Lino' referred to within this story is slang for linesman, the former name (still in widespread common use) for an assistant referee in football.
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I would like to thank Todger65 for his support in editing guidance and grammar checking this story.
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"Where are my flags?" Emma couldn't find them, and she was going to be late to the ground at this rate.
"I put them under your bed," her mum said, "they were in the way down here."
Emma was quite old to still be living at home with her parents, but her stubbornness that no man was good enough had proved the downfall to many a relationship and thus she had not moved out.
Emma sighed and ran upstairs to locate them "I'm bound to be late now, and this is my big match." She quickly grabbed her boots on the way out.
Emma was 28, a brunette with a shapely figure. She had always been one of the prettiest girls in college and one of the most popular with the boys, but didn't reciprocate their friendship. Sometimes she used to tease and flirt but then humiliate them with a slap down in with a comment or a back turn.
Emma had thought for a long time that she was at least equal if not better than all men. She had been delighted in recent years when the MeFree movement had erupted, with women using their views to legally challenge perceived unfairness. It was generally accepted that there was nothing wrong with fairness all around, but women now tried to regularly prove that they were better than men at all the roles men had usually taken, and the movement had taken matters too far.
Male sport was one of those roles.
Arriving at the ground Emma approached the 'Private' parking barrier and an official approached.
"You're in the wrong place love," he said, "public parking is round the other side of the ground."
"I am not the public; I am a professional woman and officiating at this match." Emma scorned. "I demand a space with the players parking."
The volunteer official was annoyed at the outburst but looking at the indignant Emma he raised the barrier and pointed to a space.
"Thank you, Mr parking attendant," Emma smirked.
He nearly dropped the barrier on her car as she drove through but thought better of it.
Woman linesmen! What was football coming to he thought and returned to looking at his Sun newspaper, focusing on the topless Page 3 girl.
Once parked, Emma quickly retrieved her sports holdall from the car boot and rushed towards the Officials Only entrance. In her keenness to reach her destination she quickened her pace and pushed through the now gathering crowd.
"Out of my way!"
"Come on, move, out of my way!"
An elderly couple were edging towards the concessionary turnstile. Emma arrived at their position with speed and found herself placing her hands on the old man's back and pushing him to steady herself but also an attempt to make space to continue her path. The old man, with a stick to aide his walking, lurched forward, stumbled, and crumpled to his knees.
Emma looked back as she continued past and the old man's wife was staring at her.
"Hey, don't push him," the old woman said with a growl, "can't you see he's got a stick young woman?"
"I'm in a rush and you're all in my way." yelled Emma as she disappeared into the distance to get to the pre-match briefing.
The old woman shook her head and tended to her husband, slowly helping him to his feet. They continued their way towards the entrance turnstile.
Emma reached the entrance for match Officials and joined the Referee and a male linesman already in the changing room.
"Hello Emma," said the referee who knew she was expected. He was unhappy at being the lead official at a game where a woman was to run the line, had sent his concerns to the Association, but had been somewhat rebuked. It was the way the game was going.
"The opposition has a black stripe in their colours today, so we are wearing yellow shirts. Briefing in 10 minutes on the pitch edge."
Emma looked around the changing room. One room, one shower unit, one toilet.
"I can't change in the same room as men," she whinged. "Where's my female changing facility?"
"There aren't any separate facilities Emma," said the referee, "football has always been a man's game and that's the way it's set up to be."
"Huh! not now, women are just as good as men, I demand a separate changing area."
The referee sighed and spoke with the other linesman. Already changed, they decided to leave the room and let Emma change in private.
"You have 10 mins," the referee snapped "See you at the pitch side, and don't be late."
Emma looked for a door lock, but there was not one. She stuck her head out of the door and beckoned a nearby ground official to her.