|
Page updated Friday 28th October 2011 |
|
No grey area for this man in black By Mark Jenkin North Devon Journal Thursday 19th May 2011 TONY CLOAK offers a simple piece of advice to players when he blows his whistle to signal the start of a football match: "Gentlemen, enjoy." Cloak is still smiling after more than a decade as a match official. But he has rarely enjoyed a season as good as this one when, at the age of 47, he has secured promotion to the national list of contributory league referees. On Saturday, at a dinner in Plymouth, he will receive the award for the Carlsberg South West Peninsula League's top official. This year he gained average marks of 83.38 out of 100 from the clubs, and 81.40 from assessors. Making the step up to level three next season, he will take charge of matches in Blue Square Bet South, the Zamaretto Southern League and Toolstation Western League. "I'm a great believer that you only get out of the game what you put in," he said. "I just want to do the best I can for as long as I can. When I stop smiling and not looking forward to it, then it's time to give up." While referees are increasingly being fast tracked in their teens and early twenties, Cloak's promotion proves there is still a pathway for those who take up the whistle later in life. When he trained as a referee 13 years ago, it was an opportunity to continue his passion for sport. "I've always enjoyed watching football but never could play," he said. Although he was hampered by "two left feet" there was no shortage of skill in his hands. Having spent 11 years as an amateur boxer with Bideford ABC, he had four years as a professional at light middleweight. After the adrenal of boxing, refereeing was a chance to enjoy sporting confrontation of a different kind. "It's the buzz," he said. "Going to different grounds, meeting different people, refereeing in front of 500 or 1,000 people, man-managing players, different scenarios in games. "Communication is my biggest asset I think. The assessors call it pro-active refereeing. 'Keep your hands down'. 'No foul'. 'Good ball'. 'well done'. I never stop talking throughout the game." Does the verbal 'advice' given in return from players, managers and supporters ever get to Cloak? "No," he said. "Everybody has a bad game now and then when you think, 'What the hell am I doing this for? "But as you're driving home, you run through the game and you think about the things you did right. And the things you did wrong, you put right next time. "I wear glasses and I must have heard every comment. Four eyes? You just laugh it off. "People pay their money just to give the officials a hard time. As long as it's not too offensive or violent, it's the passion of the game." That passion was evident in the Devon Sunday Senior Cup semi-final in February. "I had three red cards and nine yellows," he said. "I came off with no love lost but it was good." This season, Cloak, a butcher from Barnstaple, has also been a fourth official for the Throgmorton Cup final, refereed a Devon Premier Cup semi-final and been assistant for the Devon St Luke's Cup final. After being on the fringes of promotion for a couple of years, finally his efforts were rewarded. "Maybe I've changed my style of refereeing a little bit," he said. "When an assessor is watching you all the time, you do get a bit tense and stressed out but I've been a lot more relaxed this year. "It's luck as well. The games you have, the decisions you make. "You can have an excellent game until the last minute, then you send somebody off and your club mark can go down from 80 to 60, depending on the club secretary and how he feels." Cloak thanked his wife, June, for her support and his employers, Philip Dennis Foodservice, for their understanding when he needs time off to get to games. He may be relaxed regarding promotion but do not expect him to be lenient on players who break the laws. Whether it is the Peninsula League, Sunday League or women's football, the need for consistency means the cards come out. "The clubs might not like me sometimes but I'm there to apply the laws of the game," said Cloak. "You get the odd joker who doesn't like it but that's life, you can't please people all the time. "Everybody knows where they stand. There are no grey areas with me, it's always black and white."
Ref Bennett makes his debut in League
Mark Jenkin North Devon Journal Thursday 18th March 2010
TOP North Devon referee Andy Bennett has taken charge of his first game in the Football League. The Hatherleigh official stepped up for the second half of the Coca-Cola League One clash between Bristol Rovers and Stockport County. As the senior assistant for the game, he moved into the middle when the original referee pulled out with a calf injury at half-time. Bennett is believed to be the first referee from North Devon to take charge of a Football League match. He said: "If I don't get promoted at least I can say I have refereed a Football League game now — or half of one. "I was absolutely buzzing. I didn't sleep much that night when I got home — the adrenaline was still going. "It was a rubbish game, probably one of the worst games I have seen all season. But I didn't care because it was so special." When Dean Whitestone indicated he was unable to carry on, Bennett quickly donned the electronic headset at half-time. The fourth official took his place on the line and a level five referee was found from the crowd to take over as fourth official. "It was all a bit of a rush," said Bennett. "I didn't even realise the referee was struggling but once he got in, he made his decision and it was crash, bang wallop. "We must have had 20 minutes for half-time and we came out to a big cheer from the crowd. "The players knew I had gone from linesman to referee and they didn't half try to test me." After booking two players for dissent, he showed a second yellow card to Stockport's David Poole in stoppage-time, sending him off after a late challenge. Rovers won the game 1-0 with a first-half goal from Jeff Hughes. To mark his first game, Bennett was presented with a DVD of the match by his assessor. "You can hear the guy that does the commentary for Bristol Rovers on the DVD, he's very blinkered and very Bristolian and he's saying 'there's something different about that referee'," said Bennett. "He said 'his legs look a little bit more squat than the ref in the first half'! "It wasn't until about five minutes later that he said 'I think we have had a change of referee'. "It's surreal watching it on telly. You can see what the assessor is on about. He picked me up on one incident where I followed play instead of going at it from a wider angle." Since he first took up the whistle at the age of 24, Bennett has progressed a long way from the playing fields of North Devon. Along with Brett Huxtable of Torrington, the area has two officials currently operating on the line in the Football League. Each month Bennett referees a game in the Blue Square Conference and is assistant or fourth official for three or four Football League games. He said: "As a linesman it's probably the best season I've ever had. "Touch wood, with the marks I've had, I'm hoping to knock on the door to be promoted. "I've had a taste of it now and it's given me a bit more incentive to do well for the rest of the season."
Wait and see is key to getting it right
Mark Jenkin North Devon Journal Thursday 17th December 2009
A LATE flag from the assistant referee can drive players, managers and spectators crazy. "How late was that lino?" is a familiar rant from the sidelines at all levels of the game. Yet with today's complicated offside law, officials have much more to consider than whether a player is simply standing offside. In judging if someone is interfering with play; it may take a split-second longer to make the correct call. Football League official Andy Bennett explained that assistants are constantly advised to "wait and see" . He said: "The problem is a lot of spectators think because a player is stood in an offside position, he's offside - that's not the way anymore. "There's nothing worse than putting the flag up early and it's the wrong decision. "It can be annoying for players if you wait, but as long as you don't wait too long, it means you make the correct decision. It's all aimed at making more goals and more entertainment." The Hatherleigh official, now in his fourth season in the League, receives regular advice from coaches and mentors. "You get told as a linesman all the time: 'wait and see, wait and see' - apart from the two obvious ones," he said. Assistants are still told to flag instantly for a clear offside where no other player is involved, or when a collision could occur. The perils of an early flag were witnessed at first hand by Bennett when he refereed Barnstaple Town against Bideford in April 2004. Kevin Squire, playing for Barnstaple at the time, was jogging back from an offside position when the ball was played over the top. Although the striker made no attempt to play the ball, two Barum midfielders broke from their own half while Bideford stopped after the flag was raised. "The linesman's flag went up then back down again quickly when he realised his mistake," said Bennett. "All hell broke loose from that." Play was allowed to continue and the equaliser was a major dent to Bideford's' Western League title hopes. "You see inexperienced guys and bang, the flag goes up straightaway," he added. "You see the top linesmen in the Premier League and they always seem to have that extra bit of time. "That split second, the more experience you get, the longer it becomes in your head." Bennett's own decision-making is becoming sharper with experience. Not that the job will ever be easy. "You're watching the ball in and out of play; you're trying to watch for fouls and you're watching the line," he said. "So you're watching three different things at once and you've only got two eyes." Interpretation of the laws by different individuals will always lead to inconsistencies. And there are certain situations that are always more difficult for an assistant to judge. "The real awkward one is when a player has a shot from distance," said Bennett. "How do you know if someone is interfering or not? You don't. "AS a linesman, all you can tell is whether he is in an offside position or not. You need the referee to decide if he is interfering. That's where you need to have good team work. "We're lucky in the Football League now that we have got ear pieces so you can actually talk to the referee during the game. "It's more difficult for the linesmen as you go down the leagues." . Better knowledge of the laws from players and fans would certainly help. This season Bennett has already had the captain of a Blue Square Premier side demanding an offside flag - from a throw-in "He was playing at that level and he didn't know the laws to me that's astonishing," said Bennett.
The two following pieces were written by Mark Jenkin and appeared in the December 3rd issue of the North Devon Journal
Former Refs are picking up the whistle
THE EMERGENCE of several new recruits has boosted the refereeing ranks in North Devon. But it is not just young match officials who have taken advantage of the recent course hosted by training officer Andy Walter. Three former referees have retaken their exams and returned to the fold. Ian Hart, Andy Woolf and Julian Turner are all back in the middle, adding valuable experience to the local scene. For Hart, a few years away only made him realise what he was missing. He said: "I gave up about three or four years ago because I got fed up. I was working on Saturdays as well then, so that made it a bit difficult. "I'm 57 now and I first took the referee's course when I was 20. "When I finished, that was it. I never watched any local games and I'm not really interested in helping at a club or going into football administration. "I played a bit of golf and after a while I thought 'I want a bit more'. "I read an article about the shortage of referees and I thought why not go back out for a last hurrah?" The Westward Ho! official has kept himself fit with regular swimming sessions and he is glad to be back on the North Devon football circuit. "Since I've been back refereeing, I've done seven or eight games and I've really enjoyed everyone of them," he said. "I've had Boca Seniors a couple of times and Shamwickshire and you get back into it - you're drawn right back in. "I was down at Bridgerule the other week and I enjoyed it down there. I like it out in the country and it's nice to see people from football you've known over the years. "Refereeing is easy; it's the players that make it difficult. "There are good clubs and bad clubs but the majority of clubs are good and the people who run football are good." The Football Association insist any referee not registered for the last two years must retake the course. Hart admitted he found the exam "rather daunting". Part of the theory test involved watching video clips of games and making a decision under time constraints. Knowing the theory is important but Hart believes there is no substitute for getting out on the pitch and learning as you go. "I'm not saying I don't make mistakes - I make plenty of them," he said. "I had a lot of help when I started off and I like to think it's the same now. "Refereeing now, for anybody starting at a young age, the structure is there and there's help along the way. "If you're going through a bad time, the support is there. "There are some really good younger referees coming along but you can't expose them too quickly; you've got to give them time." Hart believes the return of experienced referees can only strengthen grassroots football, particularly when the best younger officials like Andy Bennett and Brett Huxtable soon find themselves promoted to higher levels. In the 1970s and '80s, he served as a linesman on the Western League. "I started refereeing in 1972," he said. "Back then we had a good social life too. We would all go out as a group and all the wives would go out together. "You would get back from various parts of the county and we all used to congregate in the Royal Mail in Bideford and cry on each other's shoulders!"
Stevens’ learning curve
NEWLY-qualified referee Andy Stevens says the course has helped him learn more about the game. A Western League footballer for many years, Stevens is recovering from the badly broken leg he suffered playing for Ilfracombe Town last season. While he hopes to make a playing comeback, the 39-year-old is glad to be active again on a Saturday afternoon., He said: "I'm staying involved wi1ih the game - just in a slightly different capacity. It's something new, a different experience. "All of a sudden you have got a decision to make, you've got a few players shouting and you've got to get it right. "When I was playing, sometimes a free-kick would be given and I would think 'that's never a free-kick', but when you read the laws you can see why they are given." . Three games into his refereeing experience, Stevens has been learning his trade in Journal League Intermediate Two. At present, he is not sure whether refereeing will be a long-term choice. "Obviously I'm still looking to play if I can," he added. "When (the injury) happened I thought, I'm not ready to give up yet. "I'm hoping to have the plate and screws out next May and if everything is all right, then I might have a go at it." As well as breaking his leg in February, Stevens also snapped ligaments and damaged tendons. The injury kept the self-employed builder off work for four-and-a-half months but he has recently started exercises to strengthen his leg again. "I put quite a bit of weight on but since I've been back at work it's just fallen off," he said. "I've done a little bit of football training with Torridgeside and it's gone quite well. "I've done plenty of ball work and done the doggies, it's just maintaining it over a period of time. It's does ache afterwards for a couple of days."
Referee Tony Cloak Age: 46 Home town: Barnstaple Experience/Level: Level 4; Has been a referee for 12 years Family: Wife June, who is a lecturer at North Devon College, and son Thomas Football background: Has never played for a team, but was always interested in football, and took the referees exam Leagues in Charge: Referee in the Peninsula, North Devon, Sunday, Women’s, Youth and School leagues, and an assistant referee in the Contributory Leagues, which includes Zamaretto Southern and Toolstation western. Hobbies: Football; Tony used to be a boxer and fought more than 100 bouts as an amateur and11 as a professional. He also practiced martial arts for a few years What change could be made to the game to attract more people into refereeing?: Assessors and referees must be more consistent. A referee must earn respect, as it is not given to him, and he can deal with dissent by the use of his cards that are in his pocket
Taken from The Sunday Independent, 4th October 2009
It’s official…Huxtable has ref potential
writes Mark Jenkin North Devon Journal Thursday 6th August 2009 ONE of North Devon's best referees can look forward to life in the Coca-Cola League this season. Brett Huxtable has been promoted to the level three national list, meaning he can act as an assistant referee or a fourth official in the Championship. Visits to clubs such as Plymouth Argyle, Bristol City and Cardiff City could be on the cards for the Torrington official. Huxtable, who doesn't turn 25 until next month, will start the season on fourth official duty at Torquay United against Chesterfield in league Two on Saturday. Last year, his performances as a referee in Blue Square South and linesman in Blue Square Premier impressed host clubs and assessors alike. From a group of 425 referees at his level across the country, Huxtable finished 35th, both for marks awarded by clubs and assessors. He was also rated 72nd out of 425 for his displays running the line. "I'm over the moon" said Huxtable who admits he never dreamed of getting this far when he started out at local level as a teenager. "Because of my marks I've been chosen for the development group of 28 referees in the country. "They think we have got the potential to be the next bunch to get to level two. "Being put in the development group is a big commitment because they expect more of you as a referee." Huxtable is the only official from Devon or Cornwall selected for the group and will have greater access to coaching and face extra assessments. He will now be in contact with his coach, former League referee Phil Prosser of Gloucester, up to five times a week. . As a Football League official he will also take advantage of new technology being used at the highest levels of the game. Following the Barclays Premier League, each Football League official will be provided with £4,000 radio links to help communication with each other during games. Huxtable's consistency during the 2008/09 campaign made his breakthrough season a memorable one. "I refereed. Bristol Rovers against Liverpool in the fourth round proper of the FA Youth Cup live on TV;" he said. "That was probably one of the best games I did last season." . Screened live from Bristol on Liverpool FC TV; the Reds came through a penalty shootout following a 2-2 draw. Given the extra travelling required, promotion to the level three national list is an even bigger achievement for referees from the South West. Huxtable joins Hatherleigh official Andy Bennett from North Devon, while only six referees from Devon and Cornwall are on the current list. The route to promotion hasn't been totally straightforward however. He initially failed the vigorous fitness test designed to replicate the sharp sprints done by assistant referees. Six 40-metre sprints, each in six seconds, were followed by 10 laps of a running track, including two 150-metre sprints per lap to be done in 30 seconds or less. "It's a nice feeling now to think I can go out training and running without worrying about having to pass the fitness test," he said . As well as officiating in the Football League, Huxtable will continue refereeing in the Toolstation League, Zamaretto Southern League and Blue Square South. After Saturday's visit to Plainmoor, he will also take charge of games at Weymouth and Newport County in the opening week.
North Devon RA’s president Brain Pearce was recently honoured by the England and Wales Cricket Boards’ Association of Cricket Officials for his service to cricket umpires. The following piece appeared in the North Devon Journal
Brian is officially honoured
Andrew Jones North Devon Journal 8th October 2009
AS an umpire, Brian Pearce has seen countless batsmen raise their bats to acknowledge passing a landmark - now he can finally celebrate a half-century of his own. The England and Wales Cricket Board's Association of Cricket Officials, and its Devon branch, have marked Brian's 50-year contribution to umpiring, both in the white coat himself and in training others. At the latest Devon ACA trainers' meeting at Sandford Cricket Club, the 81-year-old from Fremington was presented with' a Waterford Crystal bowl and a scroll highlighting his achievements since first taking up umpiring in 1959. "That was a complete. surprise, I had no indication of it whatsoever," said Brian, who is still appointments and training officer for the North Devon branch of the Devon ACA but "very rarely' umpires' now, merely one or two youth matches a year". While also training football referees, Brian has spent30 years instructing cricket umpires in North Devon, combining a love of. sport and education - he was a teacher at the Royal Grammar School in Guildford . He said: "There have been vast changes. Looking back, it is quite incredible how change has come about - it's beyond belief." In technology as well as the laws. "In my early days of cricket umpiring or football referring; you made your own visual aids to illustrate the points 'you made," he added'. "Today; you have got DVD’s where you can see the action in front of you." Brian took to officiating when his own playing days were cut short by "a rather severe back injury". "I played a little," he said, "After the injury; I could play cricket but I suffered for it for a week or so, then that would become a fortnight or so. "I used to love to play football but because of the injury I turned to coaching; "I was on a Football Association course at Loughborough in themid-1950s to get my coaching badges and they asked me to referee some of the matches. Norman Creek, the deputy director of coaching at the FA, more or less said coaching is good but we need you as a referee. "I came home and contacted the training officer for referees in North Devon and went through the courses . "I liked both refereeing and umpiring and the training of both. "However much you love a subject, you can get a bit stale, but because I changed from one to the other that kept me fresh." Born in Surrey but raised in North Devon, Brian returned to the South East to teach. He was an umpire training officer in both counties at the same time before coming home when he retired from teaching in 1988. Working as a team with Richard Smith and Jack Neville, he will begin training the next group of potential umpires in January with the start of a new, eight-week course, Despite their best efforts, there is an increasing shortage of umpires. "I would really like more," said Brian. "I'm responsible for appointing umpires for all the youth matches in North Devon plus regional matches and the first division of the North Devon League. We just about cover ourselves. "I have a number on my panel who have been faithful, worthy and excellent servants over many years but they are coming towards the end of their careers as umpires. If I'm not careful, I'm not going to be able to replace them." Brian would also like to see cricketers and footballers attend his courses; "The youth of today; if they understood the law then they would get it right when they played," he said. "If they were given out or had a goal disallowed, they would have a better understanding. But where are they to go to acquire the' knowledge other than come on an umpiring or refereeing course? "The trouble is, does your average layman ever buy a copy of the laws of association football? Where does he get his knowledge from? TV and the media, and sometimes they get it wrong. Because one of the experts has said so and so, Mr Average thinks that is gospel." With 50 years' experience, this expert certainly knows his stuff and what makes a good umpire. "There are two things which work together," said Brian. . "You must have a knowledge of the laws and good communication with players if you have got a difficult situation, with a few words you can explain why something is being done." Nick Cousins, the ECB ACA education manager, made the presentation to Brian and read the citation, which described him as "an English gentleman in the classic sense" and a "traditionalist" who adapted well when the ECB ACA replaced the Association of Cricket Umpires and Scorers last year, adding that his "contribution is truly unique". |
|
Sports mad Andrew is on the ball
Writes Marian Presswell North Devon Journal 20th October 2011 WHAT a multi-talented man Andrew Bennett is. I thought I was just popping into his Hatherleigh home, where he lives with his wife Kate and children, William and Abigail, to take a photo and write a few lines about his role as a referee. But I soon realised a few lines would not be sufficient to convey what Andrew has done and continues to do for sport and Hatherleigh. Andrew has been involved in sport from an early age. He acted as a scorer at Hatherleigh Cricket Club, aged 11, and played for Hatherleigh in the Devon Premier League at 17. He later captained the cricket team for five seasons, during which they won the North Devon Knockout Cup and the Devon County Corinthian Cup. As a footballer he was top scorer for Hatherleigh one season and a regular player for 16 years, until he was injured and decided to take a referee's course. As a referee he has never looked back, progressing through the leagues as referee and linesman, and now in his 16th season has refereed some' 850 games, involving some 20,000 miles travel a year. He regularly referees in the Blue Square Premier and has been an assistant referee as high as the Championship. This is his sixth season officiating in the Football League and he has refereed many prestigious cup finals in the West Country. Highlights this season include the Carling Cup match between Brighton and Sunderland (after which he arrived home at 3am), the Derby County v Millwall match in front of 30,000 fans and the Swindon v Rotherham game which was shown live on Sky. 'A cracking game," Andrew said, "Five goals and two players sent off!" You might think, with all this going on in his life Andrew potters in his garden or watches TV in his few spare moments. Not a chance! Andrew has been in the fire service for eight and a half years and plays a very active part in Hatherleigh life away from sport. As a keen member of the Walruses, he has written and narrated sketches over a ten year period for their New Year Dip, is involved with the Tar Barrels and Hatherleigh Carnival, and if you attend the Hatherleigh's Got Talent evening on Friday November 25 you'll see Andrew is the compere, as he was last year. Andrew is looking forward to his acting debut in The Hatherleigh Players' production of Dad's Army next year. Phew! And he is a proud and encouraging dad. William, aged eight, a pupil at Hatherleigh Primary school, looks set to follow in his father's sporting footsteps. He is a promising gymnast, who began gymnastics aged five and is to be seen more upside down and doing cartwheels than standing still. I was frequently dislodged from my seat while talking to his father, by an energetic William bouncing beside me. William attends Falcons Gymnastic Academy in Barnstaple twice a week and came 13th out of 24 in the boys' Devon and Open Novice Championship at Exeter very recently. Kate Bennett must be feeding her husband and son something very special and the Bennett family are certainly doing Hatherleigh proud
Gomez’s journey may end in Premier League
By DAVID POWELL North Devon Journal Thursday 5th May 2011
FROM barefoot kickabouts on the sandy streets of a sprawling African town to league football in Fremington, it has been quite a journey for Alfusainey Gomez. From his degree studies in HIV/ Aids and sexually transmitted diseases in a continent where such problems are rife to his new life here as a kitchen assistant and trainee plumber, the man they call Alfie has set his sights high. When Gomez married an Ilfracombe girl within three months of meeting her in The Gambia four years ago, no matter how much his circumstances were about to change one thing would remain constant - his addiction to football. So, with a trace of The Gambia around his neck in the form of a string of coloured beads, Gomez took to the field on Saturday for his latest assignment as a referee. It may have been only the fourth and lowest tier of the North Devon League but, 14 months after he gave up playing for Barnstaple Town reserves in a calculated move to progress in the game, Gomez is adamant. "I want to make it to the very top, to the Premier League," said the 26-yearold immigrant from the country that calls itself the Smiling Coast of Africa. And Gomez would have been smiling too after hearing the comments of the managers whose teams he refereed on Saturday, even though a questionable penalty decision gave Pilton Academicals reserves a victory over promotion-chasing Fremington. John Thompson, the Fremington manager, said: "He is up with the best we have had this year." Mark Gammon, the Pilton boss, rated him as "one of the best referees we have had this season". Gammon said: "We had him for his first game last year and he wasn't that great. But we've had him half a dozen times and, although he could do with having· a bigger voice, he keeps up with play and explains his decisions." The controversial penalty came just before half time after Andy King had put Fremington ahead, Darren Wood equalised and Richard Shannon restored the hosts' lead. Although it was officially a home game for Pilton, the match had been switched to Frembley. Bob Patterson, the Fremington keeper, had arrived late for kick-off and Thompson had to go in goal for the first eight minutes until his arrival. Now Patterson arrived late for a challenge on Alex Boreham on the edge of the area. Patterson argued that it was outside the box but a penalty was awarded, from which Garry Ellis made it 2-2. At the final whistle, with Pilton having won 3-2 after Gary Grant struck an 81st-minute winner, Gomez stood his ground. "Penalty, 100 per cent," he said. Thompson, who was more upset with his defence, said: ''A couple of the lads said it was outside the box but that's the way it goes. "We gave away three stupid goals. Letting the ball bounce on a (hard) pitch like this was asking for trouble." Gammon praised his team's work rate but was bewildered by how they could beat the top two in the division this season, Northside Atlantic and Fremington, yet draw with the bottom two, Chittlehampton reserves and North Molton thirds. For Gomez the task now is to climb the local refereeing ladder towards the big time. "I can do it by working hard and believing in myself," he said . It was while playing with Barnstaple that the idea of switching to refereeing struck him. "I thought, 'I'm 25, I'm playing with Barnstaple reserves, I'm not going to make it into the professionals'," he said. After talking· it over with friends, family and team-mates, taking the advice of local referees and going on a course, he made his debut in the middle in February last year. "The amount of support I've had from people here has been unbelievable," said Gomez. Even though The Gambia is not ranked among the world's top 100 football nations and has no internationally acclaimed players, it is the most popular sport there .. And when Gomez arrived in Britain after meeting bride-to-be Sharon in his home town of Serekunda, it was football that kept him here. "I came in the summer, it rained a lot and I was miserable," he said. "I wanted to go home. But Sharon got me Sky so I could watch football. "I said to Sharon that I wanted to get into a team and I joined Ilfracombe thirds but it didn't work out." The greatest difficulty was that on the pitch he was used to speaking Wolot; a tribal language, although his country's national language is English. "I could read and write English but the accent here was different," said Gomez. "Terms I'd never heard of, like ‘man on', were difficult to pick up, so my reactions were slower and I had to learn." Although there are few black officials or players in North Devon, Gomez said that he has suffered no malice. "Even 'if I did I wouldn't know it because I refuse to live by the word racism," he said. His memories of playing without shoes in Serekunda from the age of 5 remain vivid. "The streets were full of sand and potholes, not made up like here," he said. Just as vivid is Gomez's view of the refereeing summit. "I believe I can get me there," he said. It may be a long journey to the Premier League but the boy from Serekunda has come a long way already.
Brett aims high in football as the all-important man with the whistle North Devon Journal Thursday 16th December 2010 Anne Tattersall FOOTBALL referees up and down the country are used to having fans shout obscenities at them and players arguing with their decisions they· make, but still they keep a cool head and bring the game to a conclusion. One such referee is 26-year-old Brett Huxtable, who despite being physically assaulted when he was starting out as a referee at the age of 17 continues to pursue his dream of becoming an assistant referee to run the line for the football league. Brett, a self-confessed Manchester United fan, grew up in Torrington and started kicking a football as soon as he started walking. When he was ten he joined Torridgeside under-11’s. Although his dad, Geoff, was manager of the team Brett was granted no special favours and often had to sit on the sidelines as substitute so that Geoff could give all his team an opportunity to play. Brett played centre back for his team and despite having a fiercely competitive streak he prides himself on the fact that he was never once sent off. As well as playing Torridge and North Devon Representatives, Brett enjoyed refereeing games for some of the younger local teams and found he really enjoyed the skill of managing the game. Brett always harboured ambitions to one day play for the football league but as he got older he realised it would never happen. "I suppose 1 knew deep down that I would never be a good enough player to make the grade," he said. It was then his friend. Nigel Cockwill suggested he take up refereeing, with a promise that he would help and support him to make it as a referee for football league. Brett signed up for a 13- week basic referee training course and remembers the first match he ever refereed after his training period. "My first game was an adult match Buckland Brewer v Putford and I remember sending off the Buckland Brewer goalie and the Putford striker. It was a bit daunting as a 16-year-old to tell much older blokes how to conduct themselves but fortunately for me they gave me absolute respect and didn't question my decisions," he said. For the next two years Brett trained hard and refereed numerous games for the North Devon League. He was constantly assessed and coached during that period and took every bit of advice his assessors gave him with a view to constantly improving. When he was 18 he was delighted to receive a letter from the Football Association (FA) informing him that he was being considered for a level 4 referee position subject to a fitness test. Brett went through the rigorous fitness test and when he completed a 2,700m run in 12 minutes and two 50m sprints in 7.5 seconds he passed his level 4 which meant he could start refereeing games at County level and act as an assistant referee for the Western League Premier, Southern League Premier and Conference South. Brett rose to the challenge of refereeing at the next level and after he completed his first season he was interviewed with a view to becoming a level 3 referee. He had to undertake tests on the laws of the game, powers and duties and manual guidance of the game. Unfortunately Brett wasn't quite ready to reach the next stage but four years later after being examined on the laws of the game and undergoing a fitness test Brett earned his level 3 at the age of 22 and was able to referee the Western league, Southern league, Conference South league. At the end of a two-year period Brett earned a place of 35 out of 425 level 3 referees and was one of the youngest ever to be promoted to the National list of assistant referees in North Devon. As well as constantly training and shooting off around the country to referee matches Brett works full time as a self employed builder. At the end of some days he is absolutely shattered and he would rather slump on the sofa and watch TV than go and train but he always manages to motivate himself. "Some days, especially after laying a load of concrete, 1 just want to relax but I know that training is fundamental to my work as a referee. If I am not fit I can't perform, simple as that," he said. Brett is 100 per cent committed to his sport and his weekly programme doesn't leave him with much time for his lovely fiancée, Lisa, or his family. Tuesdays and Saturdays are usually taken up with refereeing matches; Sunday is a rest day; Monday is core training, Wednesday recovery; Thursday high intensity training and Friday rest. Brett also runs every evening and it is impossible for him to cheat because each week he has to send his training record off to an FA sports scientist for assessment. The special watch he wears during training is fixed to his height and weight which means, even if he wanted to, he couldn't get someone to train on his behalf. The watch measures his heart rate and the information is downloaded on to a computer and sent direct to the sports scientist for analysis. Brett travels the length and breadth of the country for matches and although he gets the dates of matches one month in advance he only learns the Monday before each match which game he will be refereeing. He is also working extremely hard and is committed to a programme in a development group towards his level 2 refereeing status and is constantly assessed. He is grateful for the support of his FA coach with whom he is in constant contact His coaches and assessors will also travel to games and observe him in action and give him a full briefing after each game. Brett is probably his own biggest critic when it comes to refereeing and he continually strives for perfection. When he refereed an under-18s FA Cup 3rd Round Proper between Bristol Rovers and Liverpool the game was televised live on TV and went all the way to a penalty shoot-out Brett refused to watch all the game back on the DVD he was given. Instead he simply watched the bit where his assessor had pointed out he had made a mistake. "It was my first televised live game and it was all a bit daunting so perhaps one day I will sit down on my own and watch the whole game through," he said. Brett is a man who is wants to learn from his mistakes arid is always ready to take advice from the FA on how to improve. He is also very much aware that there will be times when he will make "honest mistakes" but knows that he has to rely on his gut instincts and stand by his decisions. "There will undoubtedly be times when I get things wrong and upset players and fans but over the years I have developed a thick skin and trust and rely on my own instincts when it comes to making decisions," he said. Brett does tend to get slightly nervous before he steps on the pitch to referee each game and he gets much more nervous when he has to complete his annual fitness test which qualifies him to ref for another year. At least if I make a mistake while refereeing a game I can learn from my mistake but if I fail my annual fitness test I get one more chance and if I fail again then that means I can no longer referee so the annual fitness test fills me with dread each year," he said. Brett is still working hard towards achieving his ultimate dream of being a referee for the football league and with his commitment, work ethic and determination it shouldn't be too long before he achieves that dream. When he does, Brett would like to help other youngsters in the same way the FA has helped him over the years. "Refereeing is a great sport with a fantastic discipline and if I can give something back to the game for all the help and support I have received since I was a young lad then that's something I would love to do later in life." Brett Huxtable reveals all!!
The following piece, about our own Brett Huxtable, (Pictured above) appeared in the North Devon Journal earlier last season (2008-09)
AS a Level Three referee, Brett Huxtable is one of North Devon's top match officials. This week, the Torrington referee is preparing for one of the biggest appointments of his short career. He will be on the line for the Blue Square Premier clash between Torquay and Oxford, live on Setanta, next Thursday. The 24-year-old is quick to point out how the support of the North Devon Referees Association has helped him rise up the ranks. He believes the regular meetings help to make officials aware of new law changes and guidelines. "Referees won't be consistent because refereeing is all about opinion," he said. "But if you go to the referee meetings, you learn about law changes so everybody is singing off the same hymn sheet." When he was 17, Brett was the victim of an assault during a local league game. The RA supported him during a tough time and helped him get back out in the middle. Now he is aiming for promotion to Level Two and to fulfil a long-held ambition of reaching the Football League. "The reason I have done so well is I've got a good coach from the Football Association. and because I had four years experience at Level Four. It's put me in good stead for Level Three and I'm more level headed and more relaxed about refereeing," he said.
Name: Brett Huxtable. Age: 24.
Day job: Builder.
Level: Second season at Level Three. Includes refereeing in the Western League, Southern League and Conference South and assistant refereeing in the Blue Square Premier, and Football League and Premier League reserve games.
Honours: Referee for Devon Premier Cup final 2006 and a Sunday League Cup final. Also fourth official for this year's Devon St Luke's Cup final between Willand Rovers and Dawlish Town.
What got you into refereeing: Every young boy wants to play football in the Football League. But when I was 15, I was told by Nigel Cockwill that if I took up refereeing I could get to the Football League.
Professional referee you model your game on: Pierluigi Collina or Howard Webb. I would say Graham Poll, but I've never given three yellow cards to the same player!
Favourite' games you've refereed: Plymouth Argyle reserves v Cheltenham Town reserves. It was a Level Two game and I stepped in at the last minute because Andy Bennett couldn't do it. Also Yeovil Town v Coventry City in the FA Youth Cup at Huish Park. As an assistant it would be Weymouth v Hitchin in the FA Cup 4th qualifying round.
Most disappointing game you've refereed: Holsworthy v Appledore over the Christmas period one year. I don't know If it was my fault or the players', but it was a nightmare. I sent someone off and cautioned loads of players. My name was all over the back page of the North Devon Journal.
Funny moments in football: I remember running backwards down the hill at Holsworthy and falling over. I'm quite a big bloke and it was raining and muddy, so I got quite a bit of stick for that. Also, I was on the line for a Conference game at Weymouth the other week. When I was doing the studs and jewellery check, Stephen Reed, from Torrington, kept pulling at my shorts. He didn't actually pull them down though. (Reid, a former Yeovil Town and Torquay United player now with Weymouth, used to be in the same class as Brett at school).
Best thing about your game: I like to play the advantage a lot. Also my man management - it has taken six years to get good at it, but now, because I've got more experience, I can read the game better. My man management skills are a lot better so I don't caution or send off players unless I absolutely have to. If you can finish a game with 22 players on the field of play, you know you have done well.
Worst thing about your game: I probably talk too much during a game. Also my positioning on corners, I don't always stand in the right place.
Best referee you've worked with:Premiership referee Steve Dunn when I was about 16 and I ran the line for Tiverton Town against Yeovil Town in a friendly.
Best player you've refereed: Paul Wotton of Plymouth Argyle. Also I was on the line for Exeter City Legends against Manchester United Legends the other week and Denis lrwin was awesome.
Worst dressed referee in North Devon: Tony Cloak because he wears sandals with no socks and a suit. And he has refereed games wearing white boots that should never be allowed.
What would you change about the game: The offside law. Make it less complicated and more understandable for everyone.
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Benny Speaks!!
The following piece was taken from ‘Refworld.com’, the website of the Professional Game Match Officials (PGMO). A link to this site can be found on the related sites page.
Assistant Referee: Andrew Bennett
Location: Devon
How did you get introduced into refereeing? A referee who I used to play football with suggested refereeing to me as I was always getting injured playing football.
What skills do you think you need to become a assistant referee?
The piece below, about new qualified loacl referee Gary Suggate, appeared in the North Devon Journal on Thursday 8th January 2009Suggate takes a cautious approach to cautionsNorth Devon Journal
"I've probably been a bit lenient and I didn't give any bookings in the first three games. "There were a couple of players in the last chance saloon for a booking — one for moaning and one for fouls. Some referees might not have given them a last chance. I'm a bit of a soft touch at the moment — that will have to change I reckon. You've got to let them know who's boss!" Suggate's debut — the Journal League Intermediate Two clash between Buckland Brewer and Bradworthy — certainly gave him some early problems to sort out. Both teams turned up in blue kits and Buckland had to quickly find an alternative strip before the game could go ahead. When the match did kick-off, Suggate soon had to halt proceedings after an injury to Bradworthy goalkeeper Steve Jenkins. "I had to stop the game after just three minutes because he got studded accidently and had a hole in his knee," said Suggate. Fortunately for Bradworthy, regular goalie Chaz Balsdon was named on the substitutes' bench — albeit with a nasty festive hangover. Since then Suggate has taken charge of the Sunday League clash between Wrey Arms and Yam Yamz and the Intermediate Two game between Chittlehampton and Pilton. "It's like learning to drive really," added the budding match official. "The first couple of games I was quite nervous but I enjoyed it more in the third one and I'm actually looking forward to the next one." Playing the advantage is one area that he has already found can cause problems though. "I like to keep the game going rather than blow up for free-kicks for a little push here or there," said Suggate. "But players are their own worst enemy because if you let the game go, you get more players moaning that it should have been a free-kick. "If you're not sure, you're better off blowing up and giving a free-kick — which I didn't really want to do." Having started by taking charge of a couple youth-team games, Suggate soon noticed the contrast with the more physical adult game. "With the kids, they are genuinely looking for the ball and there's no malice at all. It's when they get older and they become stronger, they foul more," he said. "But to me, some refs have taken the art of tackling from the game and I don't want to do that." As a trainee referee, Suggate can take charge of games in Journal Intermediate One, Intermediate Two, the Kingsley League and the Sunday League. This week his education continues when Torridgeside Reserves take on Northam Lions Thirds |
|
Information on Promotion applications here |
|
Stories with a local favour |