Pictured is North Devon RA President Brian Pearce (right) receiving his 50-year RA membership award from Tom Miller (County RA President) at the September meeting of the North Devon branch

Branch Meetings (2011 –12)

Below are the dates for meetings for the 2011/12 season. All dates are subject to confirmation.

Venues yet to be arranged.

2012

Friday 20th January

At Torrington FC

Friday 17th February

At the Fox & Hounds in Fremington

Friday 16th March

At Torrington FC

Friday 20th April

At the Fox & Hounds in Fremington

Friday 18th May—AGM

At Torrington FC

Here, below, we have just a glimpse at a referees meeting. Just look at the high level of concentration and interest. It’s just a pity this isn’t shown on a Saturday afternoon

NORTH DEVON REFEREES ASSOCIATION

Rules

1. Membership is open to all qualified Referees over the age of 14 years.

2. Subscriptions are to be agreed at the A.G.M., and to run from 1st April to 31st March. Membership will include affiliation to the Referees Association and other benefits as befits the Branch. Subscriptions to be paid by the 1st April each year.

3. Monthly meeting to be as notified

4. Committee to consist of President, Chairman, Vice-Chairman. Secretary, Treasurer, Recruitment/ Retention Officer and 5 independent members, one of who shall be the Magazine Editor. The Committee shall be elected each year at the A.G.M. In the event of a committee Member resigning, the Committee has the power to co-opt a Branch member to serve until the next A.G.M.

5. The A.G.M. to be held in May of each year.

6. All members receiving the County Meritorious Service Award will become Life Members of the Branch after 20 years of unbroken service.

7. Members wishing to participate in the draw for Cup Final tickets must have attended at least 50% of Branch meetings during the current season. A draw shall take place to determine who shall receive the said tickets. If the winner does not wish to use his allocation, the Secretary shall approach the reserve applicants in turn as they are drawn.

8. Those Referees who qualify for Cup Final tickets from other sources shall be deemed ineligible, unless there are not enough applicants. The recipient must use the tickets personally and must not exchange, sell or give them away.

9. The books of the Branch will close on 31st March each year for audit.

10. An auditor approved by the Committee will be appointed annually.

11. Any alteration to the rules must be proposed and seconded by 2 members in writing, and lodged with the Secretary 14 days prior to the A.G.M.

12. All members shall receive a copy of the Branch Rules on payment of their subscriptions.

13. All newly qualified Referees shall on joining the Branch receive a copy of the National Referees Advice Manual free of charge.

14. Membership of the Branch may be withdrawn at the discretion of the Committee, for misconduct by a member.

15. All newly qualified Referees who apply for membership to the North Devon R.A., will during their first season only, have their Annual Subscription subsidised by the Branch. The amount of the subsidy will be decided annually by the full Committee, at the first Committee meeting following the A.G.M.

Page updated Saturday 3rd December 2011

County RA Quiz Results.

All the scores/results from the recent County RA quiz along with all the questions and answers can be found HERE

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.

Forging closer links

between The FA and The RA to benefit refereeing

Over the last year, there have been very constructive discussions between the FA Refereeing Department and The Referees' Association aimed at bringing The FA and The RA closer together (as achieved with the Refereeing magazine) and removing the confusion about the difference between FAMOA and The RA. This constructive dialogue has led to the creation of RA-FA (RA and FA) as the formal partnership for co-operation and joint action between the FA Refereeing Department and The Referees' Association.

Our intention is to bring together the best of the FA and RA for the benefit of all referees, and especially grassroots referees, whilst recognising the vital, independent roles of each organisation. The prime focus will be on recruiting, retaining, developing and supporting referees throughout the country with the aim of making a major contribution to raising retention rates and increasing the total number of referees.

Name and organisation

· RA-FA will not be a members' association. The RA will be the only national members' association for referees.

· There is thus no RA-FA badge - FA and RA badges will be used for dual badging on all RA-FA material/events/publications.

· FAMOA will be subsumed within RA-FA e.g. The FAMOA number, Incentive Scheme and Training Events will become The RA-FA number, Incentive Scheme and Training Events.

· RA-FA will be formally 'launched' at The RA Conference on 5th June 2010.

RA membership

Membership of the RA is vital to all referees in terms of support, assistance and development. As one senior referee said, "I joined the RA to improve my refereeing, share and listen to concerns, hear guest speakers and learn and develop as a referee."

Therefore:

· As from Season 2010/11, all referees (including Level 10 - non-active and workforce) will, (subject to approved at the RA AGM 2010), automatically become Associate Members of The RA, free of charge, when they register as referees with their County FA.

· Associate Members of The RA will receive:

· invitations to RA-FA Training Events

· the Refereeing magazine

· information about meeting dates of local RA Society meetings

· information about the benefits of Full RA Membership.

· All referees will be strongly encouraged to take up Full RA Membership and thus gain additional benefits which include:

· Personal accident insurance* Membership, with full benefits, of a local Referees' Society

· Free attendance at the annual summer RA Conference

· Support and advice if assaulted or involved in disciplinary proceedings

· Top quality refereeing supplies Representation at The FA and at County FAs Service awards

· The RA quiz

· The Benevolent Fund.

· The RA-FA Incentive Scheme will only be open to Full Members of The RA.

*The RA is negotiating the provision, as from Season 2011/12, of physiotherapy cover (as part of the insurance cover) for injuries sustained when refereeing/training.

New and trainee referees

Every new/trainee referee will:

· be introduced to the benefits of the RA-FA partnership

· be made aware of the importance and value of membership of The RA at the introduction to the Basic Course, at Module 3 and at the end of Module 5 automatically become an Associate Member of The RA when they register as a referee.

· be strongly encouraged to become a Full Member of The RA after the completion of Module 5 when RA Full Membership forms will be distributed along with details and dates of Society meetings, RA-FA Training events and The RA Conference.

RA-FA and RA events

· All RA-FA Training Event dates will be published in the summer after liaison with Mike Riley (PG MOL General Manager) to secure the services of Select Group and National List officials as speakers.

· RA Societies will be encouraged to hold some 'combined' meetings, especially when a top speaker is invited.

RA-FA hopes to produce an annual DVD of presentations and video clips for Societies to use for training purposes to be delivered by a qualified FA Tutor (or the Society training officer or referee guest speaker).

RA-FA liaison Committee

David Elleray

Chairman - FA Referees' Committee

President, The Referees' Association

The FA Refereeing department

Neale Barry

FA Head of Senior Referee Development

Ian Blanchard

FA Senior National Game Referee Manager

Janie Frampton

FA National Referee Manager Education & Training

Ray Olivier

FA National Referee Manager Workforce Development

Roger Vaughan

FA National Referee Manager Recruitment, Retention & Development

The Referees' Association

Alan Poulain RA Chairman

Arthur Smith RA General Secretary; (also on the FA Referees' Committee)

Nigel Genner RA External Affairs Committee

Bart O'Toole RA External Affairs Committee

(Taken from ‘Refereeing’ the joint publication of FA Learning and The