Newsletter Archive
April 2008
REFormation
FA Referees' Courses
The format has changed and a Practical Referees' Course was held at York College on 29/30 March 2008.This was a great success with 13 newly qualified referees.
The two-tier course we have been running in York for several years has now disappeared. It is replaced with a practical format over 5 modules - but mentored games are still required. The exams have also changed for the better.
The first workshop is an introductory session, following work the candidate has done with pre-study pack information (effectvely learning the basic laws prior to the course)
After the course (with emphasis on practical refereeing and application of the laws) the candidate becomes a level 9 referee and has to complete a minimum of 6 11-a-side games They then return for a newly qualified referee's workshop. Once this has been atttended then they become a qualified referee (level 7/8).
Spectator Scheme
Whilst the FA’s Chief Executive Brian Barwick made his aspirations clear at the first ever FA Roadshow by pledging to cut out bad behaviour from players’ and spectators towards match officials, a youth league in the West Midlands has already introduced measures to reduce incidents of spectator misconduct.
The Stourbridge and District Boys and Girls Youth League, ironically situated just a few miles from the Hawthorns where the FA Roadshow took place, kicked off the 2007-08 with a new rule which means at every one of their 200 matches a barrier of tape will be in place down one side of the pitch, a minimum of two metres and maximum of six metres away from the touchline. All spectators must stand behind this simple barrier, with players, managers and coaches standing on the opposite side of the pitch.
Sharp RDO
Having started refereeing in Hertfordshire, Phil has gone full-circle by returning to his county as a Referee Development Officer.
Since first tooting on his whistle in 1980, Phil has gone right to the top of the game.
He is still an active referee himself having started in the Hertfordshire County League and is currently a Premier League assistant. He is also on the FIFA List of International Assistant Referees and has been since 1997.
He refereed The FA Cup Final in 1999 between Manchester United and Newcastle United then five years later assisted at the Olympic Football Final in Athens.
Possibly his greatest achievement was assisting Pierluigi Collina at the World Cup Final in Japan which saw Brazil defeat Germany.
Phil will join the team officially on Monday 21 April and be based at The County Ground in Letchworth with the responsibility of developing, recruiting and retaining referees for the local game to help The FA achieve their target of having a qualified official on every game.
"RESPECT" Campaign
This is a new scheme the FA are trailling to deal with abuse and problems that referees face, at all levels of football.
It appears to be being done from grassroots upwards but when you see the petulance of professionals (aka Ashley Cole) there needs to be some action at the top to set the right examples at local level.
Examples of the repect campaign include the "roping" off of pitches and captains only being able to address the referee (rugby style).
The FA is investing £200m into the future of grassroots football.
The focus will be on many issues, including the Respect campaign to address poor behaviour from players to referees and tackle pushy parents on the sidelines.
But the project is also about putting money into facilities, coaching, referee recruitment and player development over the next four years.
Chief Executive Brian Barwick said: “It’s a very important day in the everyday life of English football.
“We are able to unveil an unprecedented £200m investment, which is largely the product of successful television and commercial deals. We will spend that money wisely, not least because we’ve asked those involved how they want it to be spent. Some 37,000 people gave us their views and their experience of football.
The aims are four-fold. Firstly we want more people involved in the game - players, coaches, spectators, administrators and, critically, referees.
“Secondly we want better coaches, more skilful players, especially children. Thirdly we want to make it easier to organise the game locally.
“And fourthly we want to raise standards of behaviour and address abusive behaviour. And as a parent and lover of the game this goal is especially close to my heart.”
Jim Finney dies aged 83
People from the world of football and beyond have been saddened by the death of former top referee, Jim Finney.
Finney, who died at Hereford County Hospital on Tuesday, aged 83, was the best-known referee of his generation.
Some people have described the Hereford man as the greatest English referee of all time.
If fate hadn't played its part, Finney would have taken charge of two of the most prestigious footballing occasions ever - the 1966 World Cup final and the 1971 European Cup final.
Former Hereford United manager Colin Addison paid a glowing tribute to Finney.
He said: "It is a pity that there are no Jim Finney's around in the world of refereeing today. He stood no nonsense and always had a good sense of humour. Jim refereed with common sense and was a very well respected referee on the international stage."
Addison, who knew Finney well and would take him out golfing, added: "Jim knew a lot of people. He remained well informed on local football and is a person who will be sorely missed by all those who knew him."
The 1966 World Cup in England marked the pinnacle of Finney's career which took in hundreds of league matches, more than 50 international ties and an FA Cup final in 1962 between Tottenham and Burnley.
Jim took control of a hot-tempered quarter-final between West Germany and Uruguay at Hillsborough.
Finney sent off two Uruguayans and was involved in an altercation in the tunnel when a Uruguayan player kicked him up the backside.
The offending player, Julio Cortes, was later banned from international football for a year - the longest suspension the professional game had seen at the time.
It is common knowledge that, had England not made the World Cup final, Finney would have had the honour of officiating the match.
"At the end of the day it was a victory for the nation and my personal prestige, quite rightly, took a back seat," he later said.
Finney watched the 1966 World Cup final, with his late wife Betty, from seats positioned just in front of the Royal Box at Wembley.
He was appointed as a linesman in the first European Nations Cup final in Paris in 1960 and, famously, in May 1963, refereed a friendly between Scotland and a bad-tempered Austrian side at Hampden Park which he abandoned after 79 minutes.
Scotland, at the time, led 4-1 in front of more than 94,000 fans and Finney said afterwards he thought somebody would have been seriously hurt' had he allowed the match to continue.
Sadly, in April 1971, Finney was driving to Preston with Betty and their three children when a car pulled out of a junction in Dorrington causing a crash that would end his glittering refereeing career.
Referee collapses and dies on pitch
A newly qualified referee collapsed and died in front of fans and players during a football match. Andrew Moore, a married father-of-one, fell to the ground inside the centre circle only minutes into the game on Tuesday.
The 43-year-old had been a referee only five months but loved the game and officiated every match he could, often taking control of four in a weekend.
Last night, his family, the football community in County Durham, and residents in the village where Mr Moore collapsed, were trying to come to terms with the tragedy.
Barely five minutes of the match - played at the village's Cooper Hall community pitch - had elapsed when Mr Moore collapsed while waiting for a goal kick to be taken, at about 6.15pm.
Mr Moore, who lived in Newton Hall, Durham, worked as a probation officer.
Meetings
The monthly meetings are held on the second Thursday of each month from September to May, each season.
All meetings are held at the York City FC Social Club, commencing at 7.30pm.
The next meeting of the Association is on Thursday, 10 April 2008 , starting at 7.30pm; the guest speaker will be Uriah Rennie, Premiership referee from Sheffield. Usual venue - YCFC Social Club.
RA Matters
York RA Centenary
It has arrived - the York RA Centenary year. Some 40 old and new members attended the January meeting to celebrate this event and reminsced over years gone by. It was an excellent start the the Centenary year with many acquaintances being renewed.
The main RAE aslo celebrates 100 years in 2008 (the special annual conference is to be at Solihull in July 2008). Members who renew their membership in 2008 will receive a commemorative coin.
Fitness Training
A reminder that Peter Hartley takes the training at York University on Thursday evenings (1830 hrs) - note on meeting nights the trainig takes place on the Wednesday.
Come prepared for the weather conditions as no changing facilities are available.
"Refereeing"
The latest FA/RA magazine has now been produced and distributed. It includes an interview with Brian Barwick, Howard Webb on Mass Confrontation and Mike Riley on Protecting the Image of the Game, as well as other articles.
Membership
Membership is due on 1 April for 2008-2009 (£21 / £11 for under 18 / £17 for over 75).....65 number for 2007-2008.
For this season each member will receive a commemorative coin celebrating the RA Centenary (same as York RA received at the Centenary Dinner on 7 March; the first to be issued).
York RA meetings
Attendances at meeting has been disappointing this season. The January meeting was an exception.
York RA Committee
The Association is in need of a new Secretary and Treasurer!
RA News - Conference
The Centenary RA Conference is to be held on 5 July 2008 - at Solihull - this is free to all members and the theme for the day is "Successful Refereeing in the 21st Century".
Speakers include Howard Webb, Mike Riley and Steve Smith; special guests include Geoff Thompson (FA), Jose Maria Garcia-Aranda (FIFA) and Pierluigi Collina.
New Referees
A Practical referees' Course was held at York College on the weekend of 29/30 Narch 2008.
This was first of the new format to be held in York.
Candidates will still be required to officiate a minimum of 6 games and attend a final workshop after the weekend, before becoming qualified referees.
RA Draw
RA Draw tickets are available at meetings to sell on behalf of the RAE. York RA receive 50% of the sales so please help where you can.
For the latest information from the RAE click below:
International Issues
The Referee's a Banker.....
An Italian Bank Manager was set upon after being mistook for a top Series A referee.
The man was mistaken for Mauro Bergonzi who had angered Juventus fans by awarding two controversial penalties to opponents Napoli wo won 3-1.
"A group of people encircled someone they thought was a referee, they tried to abduct him and continually punched him", said Italian referees' cheif Cesare Gussoni. The incident was so serious that the real Mr Bergonzi went into hiding for two weeks.
New FIFA for England
Rotherham referee, 29 year old Marc Birkett has just been appointed to the FIFA list of Futsal referees.
"I took up officiating at Futsal matches and within two years I’ve made it to the top. I’ve been refereeing now for six years, and my next ambition is to officiate in the FIFA World Championships."
Marc’s refereeing career began back in 2002 when he retired from playing as goalkeeper for a team in Derby. He is currently a Level Four referee and is appointed to matches in the Central Midlands Football League most Saturdays.
Korea Move
South Korean footballers have been indicted for dodging military service by intentionally dislocating their shoulders to receive medical exemption.
The players ask team mates to jump on their shoulders or hang heavy weights from their arms.
It takes all sorts.
UEFA Euro 2008
The draw has been for the competition in June 2008.
No England, Scotland, Ireland or Wales.
Croatia have been drawn with Germany, Poland and Austria.
Group C comprises France, Italy, Holland and Romania (interesting).
England start their qualifying campaign in September 2008, with a game in Andorra on the 10 Sept.
The officials have also been appointed. Howard Webb will represent England along with Assistants Darren Cann and Mike Mullarkey. Craig Thomson (Scotalnd) has been appointed as one of the 4th officials.
There are 12 referees, 24 assistant referees and 8 fourth officials; 44 officials in total. They will attend a seminar 14-17 April 2008 in Regensdorf, Switzerland.
Wembley Finals
Wembley has been shortlisted to host the 2010 or 2011 UEFA Champions League Finals. Other venues inn the running are Berlin, Munich, Madrid and Valencia.
FIFA RAP
Meeting under the chairmanship of FIFA President Joseph Blatter in Tokyo on 15 December 2007, the FIFA Executive Committee passed a series of decisions, including, most notably, the introduction of a Refereeing Assistance Programme (RAP).
During the meeting, Blatter reiterated the importance of the Laws of the Game and refereeing for football as a whole: "The future of our game is intrinsically linked with the quality of refereeing. Therefore, the new Refereeing Assistance Programme is crucial for football. The decision to launch this programme is a milestone in the history of the game."
The basic objective of the RAP is to professionalise the environment in which referees develop and work - at both national and international level. It comprises two distinct but related parts:
(a) the preparation of potential match officials for the 2010 FIFA World Cup™ and the professionalisation of refereeing at the top level
(b) the development of refereeing at member association level.
In order to achieve this, refereeing development officers will work hand in hand with instructors around the world to ensure a uniform approach. These efforts will be accompanied by close cooperation with the confederations, member associations and existing FIFA development offices. An extensive range of courses and workshops, supported by technological aids including internet resources, will also be organised. In total, FIFA plans to invest some USD 40 million into the programme.
With regard to the trial of goal-line technology at this year's FIFA Club World Cup in Japan, the FIFA Executive Committee noted that the findings would be presented and subsequently discussed at the next Annual General Meeting of the International Football Association Board in Gleneagles (Scotland) on 8 March 2008.
UEFA
Latest information on the Champions League and UEFA Cup can be found at UEFA.com
Visit FIFA.com for world soccer information, including the lastest version of the Laws and an interactive "offside" demo.
The FIFA laws of Association Football can be viewed via the link below:
Events Diary
York RA meetings for the season:
2007:
13 Sept - Law update / Nick Bassett, YCFC Secretary
24 Sept - York City Academy Referees' meeting
11 Oct - David Milburn, rugby referee.
16 Oct - FAMOA at NRCFA
8 Nov - Andy Leaning, Goalkeeping Coach
13 Dec - Quiz & Buffet
2008:
10 Jan - Centenary Special
14 Feb- Discussion evening
7 March - Centenary Dinner, York Racecourse
13 March - Phil Joslin
29/30 March - Practical Refreees Course (York College)
10 April - Uriah Rennie, Premiership Referee
8 May (AGM)
Other useful dates:
2007:
8 Sept - UEFA 2008 - England v Israel (3-0)
12 Sept - England v Russia (3-0)
30 Sept - Womens World Cup - Germany beat Brazil
13 Oct - England v Estonia (3-0)
17 Nov - Russia v England (2-1)
21 Nov - England v Croatia (2-3) Oh Dear!!
25 Nov - World Cup 2010 Preliminary Draw (Durban)
17 Dec - FIFA World Player Gala (Zurich)
2008:
20 Jan-10 Feb - African Cup of Nations (Ghana)
24 Feb - Carling Cup Final, Wembley
14 May - UEFA Cup Final (Manchester)
10 May - FA Trophy Final (Wembley)
17 May - FA Cup Final, Wembley
21 May - Champions League Final (Moscow)
7 - 29 June - Euro 2008 (Austria/Switz)
6 - 23 Aug - Football Olympics (Bejing)
4 Sept - FAMOA event (York)
11 Sept - FAMOA event (Stokesley)
6 Sept - Andorra v England (W Cup)
10 Sept - Croatia v England (W Cup)
4 - 19 Oct - Futsal World Cup (Brazil)
11 Oct - England v Kazakhstan (W Cup)
15 Oct - Belarus v England (W Cup)
On this day....
April:
4 April (1892) West Bromwich Albion beat Darwen 12-0 to record the biggest win in the Football League's First Division. Nottingham Forest equalled the result in 1909 when they beat Leicester Fosse.
5 April (1902) Part of a temporary wooden stand collapsed during the Scotland v England match at Ibrox, killing 25 people and injuring hundreds more;
9 April (1988) Alan Shearer made himself the youngest player ever to score a top-flight hat-trick in English league football at the age of 17 years and 240 days. The future England captain achieved the feat against Arsenal;
13 April (1936) Joe Payne scored a record 10 goals for Luton Town against Bristol Rovers;
15 April (1989) Hillsborough disaster;
17 April (1888) The first formal meeting of the Football League took place at the Royal Hotel in Manchester. It was attended by representatives of 12 clubs who agreed to form a league;
26 April (1947) the English FA Cup Final (between Charlton Athletic and Burnley) was televised in its entirety for the first time;
27 April (1946) the ball burst during the FA Cup Final;
28 April (1923) saw the first Wembley FA Cup Final, where Billy was the star performer (Yes, the white horse ridden by PC Scorey);
30 April (1938) The FA Cup final between Preston and Huddersfield was the first to be televised in its entirety by the BBC. George Mutch's penalty for Preston in the last minute of extra time was the decisive goal.
In off the post
Latest news:
Honours in 2008
Congratualtions to Gordon Taylor, PFA Chief Executive and Bob Wilson, ex-Arsenal, on their OBE's in the honours list.
Receivers of the MBE were Alan Hodgkinson, ex-Sheffield United and England and Paul Bielby, founder of the Master Skillls Football Academy (Darlington).
731
This is the number of clubs entered for the FA Cup 2007-2008 season.
Quotes
"Gary Neville is the club captain but has been injured for the best part of a year now - and Giggsy's taken on the mantlepiece."
Rio Ferdinand is clearly having a hearth while describing the Man Utd captaincy.
"Anelka is someone who can carry on his mantelpiece."
Stan Collymore can't resist a pop at Rio while discussing Didier Drogba on BBC Radio 5 Live.
"Dirk Kuyt is earning himself the reputation as Anfield's Prince Harry - in the frontline for three months and no-one knows anything about it."
Sun journalist Phil Thomas on Liverpool's non-flying Dutchman.
"Our objective is keep Arsenal English, albeit with a lot of foreign players."
Peter Hill-Wood, chairman of Arsenal, redefines "Englishness". As in, not actually that English at all.
"SENT OFF: Ware, Wolf, Serious Foul Play (90)."
Taken from the BBC vidi-printer. No doubt he was sent off for having excessive facial hair and howling.
STADIUM ANNOUNCEMENT OF THE WEEK
"If there is a qualified referee in the ground please can he make himself known to a steward."
PA at half-time at Craven Cottage during Fulham v Boro game during which the referee and linesman had a nightmare.
JOKES and STUFF
Quandry
Why do all the West Ham players wear XL shirts?
York RA Centenary (2008)
York RA was founded in 1908 and celebrates its Centenary this year.
The year got off to a brilliant start with our January meeting -many ex-members (including officers) attended an informal gathering with old and new members alike.
These included Peter Rhodes, Fred Young, Mike Sargent, John McCarthy, Peter Jones to name but a few.
The celebration dinner was held on 7 March 2008 at the Ebor Suite, Racecourse in York.
Some 195 attended the celebrations - members, ex-members and guests.
Just a short report on the Centenary dinner which was held at the Ebor Suite, York Racecourse on Friday, 7 March 2008.
The Sheriff of York, Keith Hyman, and the Sheriff's Lady attended the function to celebrate 100 years of York RA.
Other guests included Barry Bright, Vice Chairman, The FA, Alan Poulain, Chairman RA of England, Arthur Smith, General Secretary of the RA, and David Allison, Manager PGMOL.
Some 195 members, ex-members and guests attended the function which included a tribute to absent friends with the Poppleton Singers performing a number of songs, ending with "You'll Never Walk Alone".
Representatives from the various bodies attended including the FA Regional Manager (Alan Wilkie), NRCFA and York FA members, various local league representatives (Leeper Hare, F1 Racing, York Minor League and the Mitchell League).
A number of colleagues from other Referees' Associations also attended (Northumberland and N Riding).
Steve Beck attended from York City.
The evening was about referees old and new. It was pleasing to see so many ex-members including Peter Rhodes and Reg Baren (life members of the Association).
The City of York, The FA, RAE, PGMOL and the Leeper Hare FL made presentations to commemorate the Centenary (including the new RA coin commemorating the RA Centenary year) and the President, Ian Hotchkies, reciprocated with mementos from York RA.
A great evening was had by all making acquaintances with referees and colleagues. It is hoped that some of those attending will also attend the National RA Centenary Conference in Solihull on the 5 July 2008.
York RA has survived its first 100 years and now to the next 100. What will 2108 have in store?
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