LUCK - defined as "success or failure apparently brought by chance rather than through one's own actions" - is used so much in football.

The luck of the bounce, the luck of the cup draw, the goal that was but wasn't given (Lampard vs Germany 2010 World Cup) and of course 'that' goal in 1966 being the most celebrated in English football.

It plays a big part in football; players and fans alike have their own routines that are lucky and must be observed before games, well until they lose the effect and something else becomes the new lucky.

Why am I harping on about this?

Well, over the last few seasons and more regularly this season the new luck is what official will be turning up to be the man in the middle.

It has been so hit and miss this season - quite frankly miss, mainly.

We seem to have a group of officials who have been placed way outside their comfort zone.

I am not here to say 'let's blame the ref fully for why we lost', as even in game we have won when there has been issues.

This has an impact on the game in many ways' clearly the biggest one is the key decisions at key moments being wrong, these can change a game and to some degree a season.

Then, we have the knock-on effect in the stands - instead of a game of football played between two teams, suddenly one man becomes the focus.

Once the referee is on the radar, the teams almost go out the window and he is the point of all wrongs, whether warranted or not.

Then the players get wound up, bookings that should not happen suddenly start popping up and the control fades, which sadly can result in players being injured by tackles that should never have been allowed to happen.

But what about the bigger long term effect? Let's be fair, we have all been there - unless you have the self control of a saint - and shouted abuse at the ref but what actually can this lead to?

Well, Sunday comes and grassroots referees are in the firing line.

If it's OK for crowds and players on Saturday then little Timmy can do it on a Sunday, this then leads more referees to give up and then not enough coming through the system to make it to officiate in the professional game, resulting in poorer, lower quality individuals making it where as years ago they would not have.

This is not a dig at any particular official, nor am I saying the fans are in the wrong as I am the first to be hopping on my good leg and shouting.

Rather, it's the system that is failing and needs addressing at all levels.

Football is heart in the mouth at the best of times, without influence that could be better managed.

If most of us performed as poorly at our jobs we would be replaced but there is not enough in the pipeline to rectify the situation.

As you can no doubt tell it is one part of football that really gets my back up and the FA, League, PGMOL and anyone else who can needs to do more to sort it.

I spent Saturday sat between two ends of the 'luck' spectrum.

A very good friend of mine Mark and his son Henry have recently started attending games with us.

Before the Mansfield game, there was the normal chat of scorelines etc and Henry decided it was going to be 2-2,

Mark responded by saying that if this came true, Henry could have anything he wanted from the U's club shop.

You can imagine as the game progressed how Mark's credit card was looking in a very dangerous position, with Henry making a very comprehensive list of items!

When Mansfield's third goal went in, the relief on Mark's face said it all but poor Henry's expression was the polar opposite, with the two-fold disappointment of the U's now losing and his shopping spree curtailed.

One man's luck is another disappointment, summed up in one quick snapshot of all that went on, last Saturday.

The 3-2 defeat was a shock, disappointment or however you want to define it but already the attention must now shift and get behind the team on the road at Crewe Alexandra this Saturday.