Referees Discover County Cup Final Appointments
Professional referee Keith Stroud was in Chelmsford on Monday 11th February to offer his own experiences to the 80 match officials who discovered their appointment to an Essex County FA Cup Final this spring.
One-time Premier League and current Football League referee Stroud, who is a member of the full time ‘Select Group 2’ panel of officials, gave an insightful presentation before County FA Referee Development Officer, Lukas Wood, revealed this season’s County Cup appointments.
Hampshire-based Stroud regaled experiences of his first ever cup final in youth football in Bournemouth and recollected his delight in receiving an appointment - as Assistant Referee - on the FA Cup Final some 15 years later in 2003.
Keith pulled out some brief clips from his memorable day under the roof at Cardiff’s Millennium Stadium as Arsenal edged out Southampton by a single goal. But he also emphasised that his FA Cup experience was matched by the feeling he had that day in Bournemouth, and that his two medals stand proudly side by side.
That led Keith into explaining the honour and achievement which came with receiving a County Cup Final, adding that the experiences learned will stand all officials in good stead for the future and, of course, leave memories which will last a lifetime.
After each of this season’s appointments were revealed, Keith went to each table to congratulate each official on their appointment, a fine gesture for a set of officials who had been nominated for their appointments by their regular leagues or local Referee’s Society.
Of the 80 appointed officials, eight were female, including Emma Guest, who will become the first female to referee an adult men’s final in Essex when she takes charge of the Sunday Junior Trophy Final on 5th April.
Emma, who is running a blog on her experiences and ambitions as a referee, is delighted to see so many female officials rewarded in Essex. “I was ecstatic to see so many female referees at the County Cup finals evening,” she beamed.
“It shows that the mind set of women in football is really changing and that the Essex County FA are a driving force for females in the game. I love to work with fellow female officials and look forward to seeing them soon.”
“When I received the E-Mail from the County FA I was very humbled that my peers had nominated me for a prestigious appointment and I felt that my hard work and determination had paid off,” explained Emma, whose fixture takes place on a Friday evening at Aveley’s Parkside stadium.
Emma has taken charge of a final before - for the Under 16 Girls Cup in 2013 - but she’s looking forward to a first men’s final: “I am expecting more anticipation and a strong battle between the two teams. There is a lot at stake and for them. It is ‘their FA Cup Final’. I’m so pleased with the other three officials assisting me on the night.”
Having enjoyed hearing speaker Keith’s views, Emma certainly feels herself and the other officials present will benefit from his time: “Keith Stroud is one of the best in the business and I felt honoured that he had taken time out, especially at the pinnacle of the season, to come and talk to us and give very wise words of advice from his experiences in the game.”
“I feel our ‘first timers’ learned a lot from Keith, especially from his relaxed and interesting presentation. I’m sure his words of advice have stuck in everyone’s minds.”
“I have been a grassroots referee now for eight seasons. During this time I have bought my first home, got married and had two children and now I feel the time is right for me to progress my career as a referee.”
“I have applied for promotion from Level 5 to 4 for next season and I am hopeful that, with the support of my colleagues and the Essex County FA, I will be successful, and then who knows what the future will bring.”
Essex County FA Cup Finals 2018/19
Essex Under 18s Girls Cup Final
C & K Basildon vs Leigh Ramblers
Wednesday 20th March (Kick-Off 7:45pm) at Harlow Town FC
Referee: Rebecca Dunning (Brentwood)
Assistant Referees: Lewis Cobden (Colchester) and Joseph Greenleaf (Colchester)
Fourth Official: Anthony Vaughan (Tendring)
Essex Under 14s Girls Cup Final
Billericay Town vs Tigers (Yellows)
Sunday 24th March (Kick-Off 10:00am) at Aveley FC
Referee: Alfie Davidson (Tendring)
Assistant Referees: Jack Hull (Havering) and Katie Langan (Havering)
Fourth Official: Chloe Butler (Chelmsford)
Essex Under 16s Girls Cup Final
Billericay Town (Blues) vs C & K Basildon
Sunday 24th March (Kick-Off 1:00pm) at Aveley FC
Referee: Ashley Howard (Colchester)
Assistant Referees: Amber Amey (Basildon) and Molly Patch (Southend-on-Sea)
Fourth Official: Kenneth Richbell (Epping Forest)
Essex Women's Trophy Final
Bowers & Pitsea vs Lawford Ladies
Sunday 24th March (Kick-Off 4:00pm) at Aveley FC
Referee: Reece Morley (Havering)
Assistant Referees: Benjamin Horne (Castle Point) and Emilia Dingwall (Southend-on-Sea)
Fourth Official: Gemma Gardiner (Braintree)
Essex Saturday Veterans Cup Final
Little Thurrock Dynamos vs Paringdon Vets
Wednesday 27th March (Kick-Off 7:45pm) at Canvey Island FC
Referee: Stephen Gleeson (Harlow)
Assistant Referees: Ryan Anderson (Havering) and Keith Meade (Harlow)
Fourth Official: Michael Allen (Havering)
Essex Saturday Junior Trophy Final
Friday 29th March (Kick-Off 7:45pm) at Aveley FC
Referee: Leigh Ballinger (Basildon)
Assistant Referees: Benjamin Hughes-Day (Tendring) and Daniel Webster (Chelmsford)
Fourth Official: John Abbott (Braintree)
Essex Sunday Veterans Cup Final
Laindon Athletic vs Walthamstow
Sunday 31st March (Kick-Off 10:30am) at Concord Rangers FC
Referee: Kirk Edwards (Southend-on-Sea)
Assistant Referees: Christopher Bunce (Southend-on-Sea) and Andrew Newman (Southend-on-Sea)
Fourth Official: Matthew Davis (Southend-on-Sea)
Essex Cordell Under 13s Cup Final
Sunday 31st March (Kick-Off 3:00pm) at Concord Rangers FC
Referee: Daniel Prior (Maldon)
Assistant Referees: Harry Hennessey (Colchester) and Reuben Andrews (Southend-on-Sea)
Fourth Official: Morgan Davies (Castle Point)
Essex Saturday Junior Cup Final
Wednesday 3rd April (Kick-Off 7:45pm) at Bowers & Pitsea FC
Referee: Jamie Garwood (Epping Forest)
Assistant Referees: Jack Luckman (Colchester) and Sam Laidler (Chelmsford)
Fourth Official: Stephen Tovey (Colchester)
Essex Sunday Junior Trophy Final
Friday 5th April (Kick-Off 7:45pm) at Aveley FC
Referee: Emma Guest (Havering)
Assistant Referees: Wayne Dearsley (Colchester) and Lanray Alapafujah (Barking & Dagenham)
Fourth Official: Patrick Carroll (Barking & Dagenham)
Essex Sunday Junior Cup Final
Sunday 7th April (Kick-Off 10:30am) at Heybridge Swifts FC
Referee: Michael Iddenden-Smith (Thurrock)
Assistant Referees: Gavin Bailey (Barking & Dagenham) and Oliver Walker (Barking & Dagenham)
Fourth Official: Mark Keeling (Braintree)
BBC Essex Senior Cup Final
Chelmsford City vs East Thurrock United
Tuesday 9th April (Kick-Off 7:45pm) at Colchester United FC
Referee: Elliott Kaye (Epping Forest)
Assistant Referees: Rob Hyde (Brentwood) and David Harrison (Basildon)
Fourth Official: Karl Sear (Braintree)
BBC Essex Saturday Premier Cup Final
Wednesday 10th April (Kick-Off 7:45pm) at Billericay Town FC
Referee: Ayrton Hursey (Colchester)
Assistant Referees: Craig Charles (Harlow) and Robert Collins (Southend-on-Sea)
Fourth Official: Kevin Nicholson (Havering)
BBC Essex Women's Cup Final
Billericay Town vs C & K Basildon
Thursday 18th April (Kick-Off 7:45pm) at Bowers & Pitsea FC
Referee: Richard Ramjane (Chelmsford)
Assistant Referees: Nicholas Hodges (Rochford) and Matthew Bacon (Basildon)
Fourth Official: Guy Pell-Ilderton (Rochford)
Essex Cassels Under 16s Cup Final
Wednesday 24th April (Kick-Off 7:45pm) at Heybridge Swifts FC
Referee: Liam Giles (Havering)
Assistant Referees: Max Di-Lieto (Havering) and Daniel Mann (Southend-on-Sea)
Fourth Official: Daniel Charlwood (Chelmsford)
Essex Andrews Under 14s Cup Final
Sunday 28th April (Kick-Off 11:00am) at Saffron Walden Town FC
Referee: Matthew Pointer (Castle Point)
Assistant Referees: Daniel Ripton (Southend-on-Sea) and Haydn Seaman (Castle Point)
Fourth Official: Joseph Turnpenny (Basildon)
Essex Rosser Under 15s Cup Final
Sunday 28th April (Kick-Off 3:00pm) at Saffron Walden Town FC
Referee: George Payne (Colchester)
Assistant Referees: Taylor Reece (Havering) and Henry Steele (Brentwood)
Fourth Official: Toby Andrews (Basildon)
Essex Pelly Under 18s Cup Final
Wednesday 1st May (Kick-Off 7:45pm) at Billericay Town FC
Referee: Joseph Gray (Thurrock)
Assistant Referees: Luke Scottow (Southend-on-Sea) and Cameron Scorer (Brentwood)
Fourth Official: Eugene Robinson (Chelmsford)
Essex Sunday Premier Cup Final
Sunday 5th May (Kick-Off 10:30am) at Great Wakering Rovers FC
Referee: Paul Stratton (Havering)
Assistant Referees: Charlie Roberts (Havering) and Chris Girdlestone (Harlow)
Fourth Official: Simon Caton (Rochford)
Essex Under 12s Cup Final
County Park vs Colebrook Royals (Reds)
Sunday 5th May (Kick-Off 3:00pm) at Great Wakering Rovers FC
Referee: Calum Gray (Barking & Dagenham)
Assistant Referees: Ethan Campbell (Southend-on-Sea) and Harry Hickman (Castle Point)
Fourth Official: Riley Bott (Castle Point)