February 19, 2026

When a fan replaced an injured linesman in an English football fan



English football is famous for its drama, passion, and unpredictable moments. With 1xBet you can also enjoy betting on those surprises too.

This sport tends to surprise us in 3 main ways:

  • goals;
  • red cards;
  • and last-minute winners.

However, sometimes the strangest stories happen on the touchline. One of the most remarkable examples occurred in November 2017 during a Championship match between Norwich City and Preston North End at Carrow Road. Here a fan was asked to step in as an official after a linesman was injured. And 1xBet is also the best platform to bet when it comes to English football as well.

Following the standard procedure

Late in the match, assistant referee Mark Jones suffered a muscle injury and was unable to continue. As is standard procedure, the 4th official, Andy Davies, took over running the line. This created a new problem: there was now no 4th official to manage substitutions, added time, and technical areas. A place where you will certainly find no problems at all is the https://www.1xbet.co.ke/en/casino website, where amazing games can be found and enjoyed.

With no reserve officials available, referee Tim Robinson briefly considered abandoning the match altogether.

In a moment that seemed more like something from grassroots football than a professional league, an announcement was effectively made to find help. From the stands emerged David “Spud” Thornhill, a lifelong Norwich City supporter who also happened to be a qualified referee. And at 1xBet, you will also be able to bet on other bizarre situations for the football world too.

Still dressed in jeans and civilian clothes, Thornhill volunteered to help and was approved by both teams. He was given the fourth official’s jacket and took up position on the touchline, much to the amusement of players, staff, and supporters.

A highly positive reception

Crowd reaction was overwhelmingly positive. And another thing that is also positive is to place a bet on live football at 1xBet.

Every time Thornhill raised the electronic board to signal substitutions or added time, he received cheers and applause. Social media quickly picked up the story, with fans and pundits praising both his willingness to help and the unique spirit of the moment.

The match itself finished 1-1, but the result was almost secondary to the extraordinary scene. The incident became one of the most talked-about football stories of the season and highlighted how, even in highly professional environments, football can still rely on the community around it. That’s another reason why deciding to place a live bet on football matches on a website like 1xBet can be so amazing.

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