'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.
"I want you to stand outside the door and not let anyone in," she stropped, "I don't wish to be on show whilst I'm changing."
When she was certain no one would disturb her, she changed quickly into her linesman clothes and tied her shoulder-length hair back in a bunch.
The match started and Emma ran the attacking sideline for the home team. It was an event-less first half as the home side were doing most of the defending. Whilst standing on the halfway line, with the ball and most players in the home teams defending half, Emma heard one or two catcalls from the crowd. She ignored them.
"Nice ass on that linesman." Followed by "She could run my line any day."
The first half ended, and the home side were losing 1 - 0. During the half time break, Emma again demanded that the referee and the other linesman, leave the room whilst she used the facilities. They were not best amused.
The Second half started and it began to drizzle with rain. Halfway through and the home side started attacking. Emma was needing to run up and down the line to keep up with play. With the increased running, she noticed that her feet appeared to have more movement in her boots, and given a pause in the play, looked down. She wondered why they were loose. The laces were tied, all seemed in order.
The ball was kicked up-field and Emma was on the move again. The ball went out on her side, and she raised her flag giving the throw-in to the opposition.
The crowd screamed abuse - the ball had come off one of the opposition players.
The home players surrounded Emma and the referee. The referee, from what he saw, was sure the crowd and home players were correct, but had no choice than to support Emma who was adamant that she was right.
The players, still annoyed, returned to the game.
Emma was on the move again. This time she had to turn and run back quickly to follow the path of the ball. In changing direction, her foot, loose in the boot, stepped out and she needed to complete her run with one boot missing.
"Can't even tie her boot up properly!" someone in the crowd yelled. There was a bit of laughter.
With the game constantly in play, Emma had no time to retrieve the boot and her socked foot became muddier and wetter from contact with the ground. Eventually the game stopped for a foul, and she looked at her drenched sock. She stared at the other boot and noticed that it had a blue flash on the side. They were not her boots. She must have picked up an old pair, maybe not even hers. That was why they were loose. She cursed herself for rushing earlier.
The game restarted and more running the line meant the remaining boot joined its 'partner' by slipping off her foot. Emma continued in her socked feet. She was, after all a professional.
The game progressed and Emma forget the fact she was running the line bootless. A couple more throw-in decisions and jeering from the crowd followed
"Oh look, she got that right." And "Wear your glasses for that one, did you?"
The home side pushed forward and there was a muddy scramble in the opposition box. There were 5 mins to go. The ball was back and forth as home players fought to stab it in the net and score, and opposition players fought to defend. The crowd yelled and the home players spun away celebrating that the ball had gone over the line. Emma flagged.
The referee speaking through her earpiece, which connected the officials, suggested she lower her flag. However, she held firm and waved her flag again. The referee had no choice but to run over to her, quickly followed by the home players.