Referees

Associations

Referee Support All Over the County

IMPROVING THE STANDARD AND STATUS OF REFEREES

New Members Welcome, Locally and Countywide

The Essex County Referees’ Association (ECRA) is affiliated to the national body, the Referees Association (RA). For over 100 years, the ECRA has looked after the interests of referees within the county and helped in providing post-graduate training to cover the finer aspects of the laws of the game, giving assistance whenever needed.

The main aims of the association are to:

(i) recruit new members
(ii) improve the status and standard of referees
(iii) protect members from injustice or unfair treatment
(iv) assist and take action, legal or otherwise (with the assistance of the RA where necessary), on behalf of any member who has been unfairly treated
(v) promote the interests of referees in general


Both The FA and the Essex County FA strongly recommend that every referee should become a member of the RA. The first year is free, and the County RA will automatically enrol new referees!

In Essex there are seven Local RAs affiliated to the County RA, and they hold monthly meetings throughout the season. At these meetings, guest speakers are invited, in-service training is held to give members the opportunity to refresh and improve their knowledge of the laws, and opportunities are given for members to discuss any problems that they may have encountered during the course of their games.

Please Note: Any member wishing to attend any of the above local RA meetings below should firstly contact the secretary as dates and venues could be subject to change. All meetings are held virtually until further notice.

Basildon

Secretary: Martin Berry 
Meeting Venue: Basildon Sports & Social Club, Gardiners Lane South, Basildon, SS14 3AP
Dates: Third Thursday in each month at 7:30pm from August to May (second Thursday in December)

Colchester

Secretary: David Feline
Point of Contact: Aaron Farmer (Chairman)
Meeting Venue: Stanway Rovers FC, New Farm Road, Colchester, CO3 0PG
Dates: Second Wednesday in each month

Halstead & District

Secretary: Ashley Butler
Meeting Venue: Halstead Town FC, Rosemary Lane, Halstead, CO9 1HR
Dates: Each month at 7:30pm depending on venue availability

Southend & District

Secretary: Paul Falvey
Meeting Venue: Len Forge Centre, Eastwoodbury Lane, Southend-on-Sea, SS2 6UH
Dates: First Thursday in each month at 7:30pm, except in August and January

Thurrock

Secretary: Rhys Battye
Meeting Venue: Lakeside Sports Ground, Arterial Road (A1306), Chafford Hundred, Grays, RM16 6DN
Dates: Third Monday in each month at 8:00pm from August to May

Why Should I Join My Local Referees Association?

Included in your annual subscription to your local RA is your affiliation to the national RA and the County RA. This will provide you with automatic cover under the RA Personal Accident Insurance Policy.

This policy covers you whilst actually refereeing, travelling to and from matches, attending meetings, organised training and loss of refereeing equipment whilst at a game plus loss of personal clothing and effects.

Members can also purchase a wide selection of referee kit and accessories at much lower prices than can be bought locally in sports shops. This kit is worn by referees at all levels of the game, from the Premier League to the local parks. Most local RAs also have an active social side you can be a part of.

Assistance may also be given to members who are unable to work through an accident or illness, upon application to the Benevolent Fund. For the cost of one match fee, you can belong to the RA by contacting your local society. All newly-qualified referees, and new members joining the RA for the first time, have free RA membership in their first season.

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