Referee's

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

  REFEREES
 

ESSEX OFFICIALS HANDED FA CUP APPOINTMENTS
 
The Essex County F.A. would like to congratulate the following match officials for their appointments to F.A. Second Round Proper fixtures:
 
Peterborough United vs Tranmere Rovers
Assistant Referee: Keith Yeo
 
Southend United vs Luton Town
Fourth Official: Gary Jerden
 
Histon vs Leeds United
Fourth Official: Robert Whitton
 
Grays Athletic or Carlisle United vs Crewe Alexandra
Fourth Official: John Hopkins
 
Kidderminster Harriers vs Curzon Ashton
Assistant Referee: Andrew Parker
 
     

ESSEX OFFICIALS HANDED FA VASE APPOINTMENTS
 
The Essex County F.A. would also like to congratulate the following match officials for their appointments to F.A. Carlsberg Vase Third Round Proper fixtures:
 
Lowestoft Town vs Harefield United
Assistant Referees: Maurice Cook and Anthony Pope
 
Croydon vs Camberley Town
Referee: Stephen Rubery
Assistant Referee: Martin Quinn
 
     

ESSEX OFFICIALS HANDED FA YOUTH CUP APPOINTMENTS
 
Congratulations also to the following match officials for their appointments to F.A. Youth Cup Third Round Proper fixtures:
 
Reading vs Preston North End
Referee: Neil West
 
Tottenham Hotspur vs Sheffield United
Referee: Wade Norcott
Assistant Referees: Nigel Bond and Paul Reilly
Fourth Official: Stephen Moore
 
Leyton Orient vs Watford
Fourth Official: Garry Maskell
 
Ipswich Town vs Shrewsbury Town
Fourth Official: Andrew Langsdon
 
     

Alan Wilkie

FORMER PREMIER LEAGUE REFEREE

A HIT AT SEMINAR
 
  Former Premier League, European Cup and U.E.F.A. Cup match Official Alan Wilkie was one of the main draws to the annual F.A. Match Officials' Association (F.A.M.O.A.) Referee Development Seminar staged by Terry Thacker and David Dixon of the Essex County F.A. on Sunday 7th September.

Wilkie was the Key Note Speaker at the Brentwood-based seminar, delivering an interactive session titled 'Refereeing with Feeling for the Game' which was taken in by a healthy number of local referees, Dixon reporting: "It was pleasing to see that the new format attracted 131 referees to the event."

In a break with tradition, this year's seminar was changed dramatically from previous efforts. The event was moved to the Holiday Inn to try and entice more referees to attend at a central Essex venue while the format was also altered to involve four educational topics. After the opening address by Terry, in which he was able to cover the law amendments for the 2008/09 season in a record time of ten seconds, those attending were split into groups in order to attend interactive sessions. These were led by experienced local match officials and included Position and Movement, Dealing with Confrontation, How to Sell Yourself and Your Decisions and When and How to Play Advantage.

Alan was notably the referee during the match between Crystal Palace and Manchester United at Selhurst Park on 25th January 1995 when Eric Cantona of United performed a kung fu-style two-footed kick towards a group of spectators as he was leaving the field following his sending off four minutes into the second half of the game.

His presentation started off with a statement often used by players to describe referees: "They know the Laws, but they don't know the game!" He then proceeded to take the audience through a journey which started with two discussion-provoking questions to ponder in small groups, such as what challenged them the most and the least in their own game. He then continued to engage the gathering throughout the afternoon by enticing them to answer questions covering what a successful referee needs, how to react to certain situations and how to manage players, chipping-in with his own experiences at the top level and as a referee assessor.

The event was closed by Edward Stone, F.A. Regional Referee Manager, who also gave a brief update on the 'Respect' programme, leaving Dixon to summarise: "Alan used humour and gave sound advice that catered for all eight levels of match officials represented in the audience. He told everyone that if all he said could be achieved then players may be heard saying: "They know the Laws, and they made a positive impact on the game!"

"The feedback for the event so far has been very positive, both about the venue and the format of the day. It is hoped to run a similar event later in the season in another part of the County, although it would be prudent to book early as possible as a number of referees weredisappointed this time around as no places were available for them. We'dlike to offer a big thank you to Keith Ashley, Peter Burrowes, Tony Trevers, Gary Mead and Alan himself for the time and effort they put into this event to make it a huge success."		  
 
     

ESSEX REFEREES ACHIEVE LEVEL THREE STATUS
 
Congratulations to the following Essex-affiliated match officials, who
have recently achieved Level Three status:

Adrian Oldershaw (Brentwood)
Tony Goddard (Dagenham)
Nick Cooper (now Suffolk)
Elliott Kaye (Dagenham)
 
     

GRAPHIC PHOTO HIGHLIGHTS NEED

FOR SAFE FOOTWEAR
 
Footballers and referees in Essex have been urged to check their studs in a clampdown on injuries caused by dangerous football boots in the County after sickening pictures were distributed by a local women's team.
 
David Dawson, Secretary of Sawbridgeworth Town Women who participate in the Essex Women's League, released a worrying photo of a gash to one of his players' knees caused by the 'bladed' form of footwear after an innocent challenge during a game and claimed: "My E-Mail was not sent to shock but to make everyone aware of the dangers of not checking studs or blades before games. I sent round a photo of a cut to one of my players who sustained this injury whilst playing in December. It was not as a result of a vicious or malicious tackle but of a coming together of two players who had both gone for the ball. The momentum of this saw the boot of one sliding along the inside of the knee of the other."
 
 
Now the emphasis is being placed on referees and players alike to join forces in monitoring footwear prior to the first whistle being blown, Dawson continuing: "A stud and blade check before the game could have prevented this injury and also would have allowed this player to have continued playing as she is now in the middle of a lengthy break while the injury fully heals."

The Football Association's guidelines are clear on the matter, information from their Soho Square Headquarters stating: "As referees we have to concern ourselves with trying to ensure that playing conditions are safe for everybody involved. Players need to take the greatest responsibility, but referees have to play their part as well. We do not need to get involved in an argument as to whether blades maybe more of a hazard than studs. Our concern must be to be sure that whatever the players are wearing constitutes no danger to themselves or others."

Essex County F.A. Council Member and Secretary of the Women's League, Dawn Barnard, is one of those fronting the current drive to prevent such injuries. She explained: "There are too few referees out there undertaking boot checks prior to matches, I know from my own experience. We need to highlight the implications of not doing so."		  
     

Steve Rubery (3rd right) in charge of the 2007 Saturday Premier Cup Final

 

COUNTY REFEREES REACH FOR THE SKY
 
  There will be some familiar faces on Match of the Day next season as a trio of Essex officials celebrate their promotion to officiate on the F.A. Premier League's list of Assistant Referees.

Last season's Fansfocus.com Essex Senior Cup referee, Shoebury's Simon Beck, as well as Mike Bull from Chelmsford and Ilford's Steve Rubery will potentially be granted dream appointments at venues such as Old Trafford and the Emirates Stadium following their consistently excellent performances, particularly as assistants on the Coca-Cola Football League.

For Rubery, it's a fantastic reward for almost two decades of hard work as a match official: "I started refereeing in 1988 on the Ilford & District League, Essex Business Houses League and the Essex Sunday Combination and then made it on to the line on the Essex & Herts Combination. Following this I gained promotion to the old Class Two in 1990 and jumped again to Class One two years later".

Steve made it onto the Football League's list of assistants in 2000 and last season ran the line in a Coca-Cola League Two Play-Off Semi-Final. He also acted as an assistant for the inaugural Essex Women's Cup in 1995 and as referee in the 2003 Senior Cup Final as well as the 2007 Saturday Premier Cup showpiece. Furthermore, he assisted at the 2006 F.A. Women's Cup Final between Arsenal and Leeds United at Millwall's New Den.

However, Steve, Mike and Simon are now set for a new episode in their careers as they tackle domestic football at the highest level. We wish them all the best!		  
 
     

JEWELLERY BAN UPDATE

  
 
Following on from last week's jewellery ban statement, The FA have announced that plain wedding bands that cannot be removed will be allowed to be taped up for matches.

FA Head of Senior Referee Development, Neale Barry, commented: "A player, who can satisfy the referee prior to the game that their plain wedding band is unable to be removed, will be allowed to cover it with tape.

"This only applies to a plain wedding band and no other type of jewellery.

"This amendment is to ensure that no jewellery, which can be physically removed, is worn by players. It recognises the fact that, sometimes through the passage of time, wedding bands become extremely difficult to remove."

For more information contact Terry Thacker on...		  
01245 393086
or
terry.thacker@essexfa.com
 

   PLAYER JEWELLERY BAN FOR 06/07

  
 

The Essex County FA have announced that there will be a complete ban on players wearing jewellery during matches this coming season.
 
In the past, referees have allowed wedding rings to be taped up and worn throughout the 90 minutes but a new directive sent to The County Office this week from the FA's Head of Senior Referee Development, Neale Barry, means that players must now be jewellery free.
 
ECFA Referee Development Officer, Terry Thacker, commented: "Law Four states that a player must not wear anything which is dangerous to himself or another player and this does include jewellery such as wedding rings and earrings.
 
"Referees in both the professional and grassroots game have been circumventing the law over the last few seasons but a decision has now been made by the Football Association that this should no longer be the case as wedding rings and bands have caused bad injuries to players in the past and must now be removed."