Welcome to the website of the north Devon referees.

Site updated Friday 12th June 2009

North Devon referees are pleased to be supported by the

Text Box: Comments about the website are more than welcomed as would any information, or material, to add. Please contact:- Andy Walter 7 Park Lane Bideford Devon EX39 2QL Phone: 01237 421444 Mobile 07766 140560 E-mail: andyjwalter@hotmail.com

Any views or opinions expressed on this website are not necessarily supported by either the North Devon Referees Association or the Devon County FA unless stated otherwise

REFEREE TRAINING

The latest course details and

dates for next course in north Devon now available here

Below is just a look at the last course and an example of the quality training and interest the lucky candidates experienced!!

A couple more photos can be seen on the

’Referee Training’ page

Latest Updates

Photos involving local referees

NDRA Branch meeting dates for next season

Bodenham becomes first referee to join umpires list

Martin Bodenham will next summer become the first former top-flight football referee to stand as a fully-fledged first -class umpire. The England and Wales Cricket Board yesterday announced that Bodenham - along with the former England spinner Nick Cook, Michael Gough and David Millns - will join the list in 2009. Bodenham said: "I am absolutely delighted to be on the full list. I began playing cricket when I was around 10 or 11 years old and love the game. When I retired as a football referee 10 years ago I took up umpiring and continued to play second XI league cricket. Cricket is and always has been my major sporting passion." During his 32-year career as a referee Bodenham, 58, took charge of the 1997 League. Cup final between Leicester City and Middlesbrough, two FA Cup semi-finals and was the fourth official at the 1994 European Cup final in Athens when Milan defeated Barcelona 4 -0.

The Guardian

NB: North Devon referees wish Martin the very best., and congratulations on being the 1st former top level referee to make the 1st class Umpires list.

Martin did visit the NDRA a couple of seasons ago and gave an excellent evenings' entertainment

FORMS AVAILABLE TO DOWNLOAD

The following forms are all downloadable from the following links

Misconduct Reports forms

Multi Caution Match Report form

Standard Misconduct Form

Both the above forms are in Excel and are for electronically filling in and to email to the County office

Referee Training in Devon

Course Application form

Course dates

Men in black are now a pack - thanks to the Gazette

31 December 2008

THEY'RE the lone wolves on a Saturday afternoon. But this season, North Devon's men in black are now more of a pack than ever - thanks to the North Devon Gazette.

The Gazette has teamed up with the North Devon Referees' Association to kit out 40 members with matching tracksuits that the officials can wear to games on match days.

It is hoped that the tracksuits will raise the profile of referees in the area - and help boost the association's flagging membership that is struggling to meet the demands of an increasingly busy local weekend fixture list.

Although there are currently around 50 registered referees in North Devon, only 35 to 40 of those are estimated to be active every Saturday.

And of that number, 10 to 12 of those more qualified referees regularly supervise higher standard games out of the area.

"Realistically, we are left with around 25-30 referees to look after about 30-35 North Devon League and Kingsley League games," said NDRA chairman Andy Walter.

"There are simply not enough referees to go around and our appointment secretary is having a really difficult job at the moment."

The branch, has registered referees from all over North Devon; from South Molton to Kilkhampton, and from Ilfracombe as far as Winkleigh.

The youngest is Ken Parkhouse at 17, while the oldest active referee is Rob Clarke, at 60.

Supplies officer Tony Butler hopes that new tracksuits - as well as the promise of minimum £20 match fee and travelling expenses - will encourage more football enthusiasts to pull on the unmistakeable black shirt.

"All referees start with a big bag of enthusiasm but often, that gets slowly worn down over the years due to hostilities on the pitch," he said. "Many referees that take the time to complete the necessary training courses pack it in after a couple of years.

"The FA is very keen to encourage younger referees into the game and today, for new referees of the right age, there is more potential to progress to the highest levels of football than ever before.

"We welcome people from all backgrounds and walks of life to the training courses, which generally take place once a year depending upon demand."

But Mr Butler said that in terms of the local game, experience showed that it is the guys who are coming to the end of their footballing careers who can service North Devon football the best.

"We need those lads in their late 30s or early 40s who have played football at a local level and are thinking about hanging up their playing boots but want to put something back into the game and commit to refereeing," he said.

"Those who have football knowledge and are used to playing in amateur games tend to be more streetwise and have the necessary man-management skills needed at local level football.

"We also want to try and encourage those referees who have taken their badge, but have been inactive for more than two years, to get their qualifications up-to-date and get back into the game."

There are currently 11 would-be-referees taking a training course at Appledore Football Club that runs until March next year. Mr Walter said that although the branch usually ran one course per season, it would always put on more courses if the demand was there.

"If eight or nine people suddenly ring up and want to do a course, then we'll put one on," he said.

Mr Butler said that branch had set up a strong network of support for local referees.

"Although we are often seen as the lone wolves on a Saturday afternoon, when we get together for meetings, there's usually lots of batter and we are all very supportive of one another," he said.

"The new tracksuits will help to raise the profile of the branch and enable us to look the part when we turn up to games.

"This is the first time the branch has ever had a sponsor in its 40 years' of existence and it's great that in the North Devon Gazette, we have found a supporter, that truly believes in what we are doing.

"Refereeing is about going out there to control the game and making sure that it is played in the spirit in which it was devised.

"We want to ensure that all 22 players on the football pitch have an enjoyable afternoon. We don't receive many plaudits, but when we do, it's a real bonus."

For anyone wanting to find out more about refereeing, the branch meets at Marshford, home of Appledore Football Club, on the third Friday of every month.

Our local branch of the Referees Association were delighted to receive sponsorship from the North Devon Gazette in the form of tracksuits.

The picture below is taken from the Gazette and shows a number of local referees receiving their tracksuits. Below the picture is the article which accompanied the picture in the issue of the Gazette published on Wednesday 31st December 2008

All the below can be found on this website

Fantasy League Update

(Final tables for the season prize list and cup final result)

Training page updated

Hansen Cup final officials picture and a cricket ‘special’

North Devon RA Rules

FAMOA Event 2009 is Confirmed!

Good advice on the throw-in from Julian Carosi

(Taken from the latest and, sadly, the last ‘Corsham Newsletter’

All the following stories here

FA blows whistle on ‘football fathers’

Put the real thugs before proper jury

Wenger’s warning over X-rated tackles

Young referee may be demoted after third high-profile error this season

NDRA February branch meeting report