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 (09-10)

Take it that, unless it states otherwise, all meetings take place at the Appledore FC clubhouse situated at their ground Marshford. The ground can be found on your right just pass the turning for the shipyard.

The meetings start at 7.45 pm.

2010

19th March

16th April

21st May

Annual General Meeting

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 Wednesday 24th February 2010

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.

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. Beside the picture is the article which accompanied the picture in the issue of the Gazette published on Wednesday 31st December 2008

North Devon Referees’ Association

Branch Meeting Minutes

January 2010

APOLOGIES

Apologies were received from; Dave Loder, Tony Cloak, Tony Butler and Brian Pearce

PREVIOUS MINUTES

The previous minutes were not read as we did not have a meeting in November or December.

MATTERS ARISING

CORRESPONDENCE

None to report

REPORTS

North Devon League

Nothing to report

Kingsley League

Nothing to report.

County RA

The County RA committee would like to thank North Devon RA for the County quiz, as the venue refreshments and quiz was excellent.

The County is producing a booklet to outline the referee’s duties and what is expected from them and from the county Football Association.

There is an anomaly about our branch regarding active and non active officials – need to clarify this.

North Devon Sunday League

Nothing to Report

County FA

Referees may have to pay for the Devon County handbook from next season when they fill in their registration forms.

ANY OTHER BUSINESS

Our branch has received a letter regarding our thoughts about marking the clubs on the North Devon Journal league. This will be done by having criteria to follow based on a fair play scheme. Here are some of the thoughts from referees at the meeting, this is only a proposal and is not in writing!!

If referee’s fail to comply with the league rule this will have to lead to disciplinary action in some form.

Perhaps introduce it into the premiere division first for a trial and see how the clubs respond as well as the referees, then filter this marking scheme down through the leagues.

Andy will feed back to the league so watch this space to see what happens in the future.

Andy Walter should be congratulated for all his hard work and efforts for a good quiz.

Thanks to Dave Loder for organizing a night out before Christmas this was very good and well attended.

Clubs should phone the referee on Tuesday as a mark of respect (5 days prior to the game) if not perhaps referees should phone them or if not they should report the club to the league.

There are two referees in the North Devon League who have sent players from the field of play and have not sent the sending off into the County FA. We get paid a fee for refereeing and therefore it is our duty to comply with the FA and send in all misconduct sanctions to them. As a society perhaps we could phone the referee as he is letting the rest of our society down. Perhaps the league could get another column on the team sheet or mark beside the player a C for Caution or SO for Sent off this may remind the referee to send it in as well as having it on paper for the league secretary.

If you are an assistant referee and the elements are causing a problem I.e. the sun, you are allowed to wear a baseball cap.

Mike Curtis was refereeing Goldsworthy V North Taw ton in the Torridge Cup and stopped the game to borrow a pair of the vice chairman’s gloves because his hands were cold. At half time he gave back the gloves he had a borrowed and had his own pair on!!

In the North Devon League it was reported that Alan Webster had to change his referees top during the game. His normal Black attire was changed to a nice bright pink goal keepers top as his shirt clashed with the Boca Seniors away kit under the floodlights!!!

The meeting closed at 9.45 pm. There were 20 members in attendance