|
FERMANAGH AND WESTERN FOOTBALL
ASSOCIATION
Suspensions and Club Fines – 15/02/2010
|
Player/Official | Club | Date of Dismissal | Offence | Suspension | Additional Suspension Starting from | Fine | |
Shane Hackett | Ballygawley | 06/02/2010 | Violent Conduct | 1
+ 2 Matches | 22/02/2010 | £20.00 | |
Gareth McGuckin | Fivemiletown United II | 06/02/2010 | 2nd Caution | Automatic (1) | n/a | £10.00 | |
John McMenamin
(Official) | Spamount Swifts
| 06/02/2010 | Reported by Referee | 3 Matches | 15/02/2010 | £75.00 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
|
REFEREES WILL BE MAKING A DONATION WITH THEIR MATCH FEE
WILL
YOUR CLUB AND SUPPORTERS ON THE DAY SUPPORT THEM
FOR THE
NATIONAL DEAF
CHILDREN’S SOCIETY IN NORTHERN IRELAND
ON
SATURDAY 20th FEBRUARY 2010
|
National
Deaf Children’s Society in Northern Ireland. Key Facts.
There are around 1060 deaf children
in Northern Ireland.
90% of deaf children in Northern Ireland are born into families with no previous
experience of deafness.
40% of deaf children in Northern Ireland also have additional needs.
Deaf Children in Northern Ireland.Deafness in children can present at
birth, or can develop during their lives. Most deaf children are diagnosed as a result of the National Hearing Screening programme
when new born children have a hearing test before they leave the maternity hospital. Some children will lose their hearing
as a result of illness or the treatment of a serious illness.
Early diagnosis means that it is possible to plan the best support for a deaf
child in Northern Ireland. However, parents of deaf children often struggle to find out about services and ensure that their
child can be offered opportunities that others may take for granted. All too often, this becomes a struggle between the parents
and education or health providers. Parents have to encourage infants to wear hearing aids and cochlear implants,
while the child will be more interested in putting them in their mouth or investigating their insides. The fact that a child
may have a hearing aid does not mean that a deaf child can always hear well or hear everything that hearing people would take
for granted. Depending on the level of deafness, a deaf child with a hearing aid may only be able to hear the roar of a lorry
passing them in the street, while other’s will struggle to hear the teacher speak in a noisy classroom.
Deaf children
will often struggle to communicate with their parents and their brothers and sisters.Because of their hearing loss, deaf children
will usually take longer to develop an understanding of spoken language and will find it difficulty to learn to speak. For
some deaf children, learning sigh language can be a way of breaking down communications barriers with friends and family.
Other’s will be able to cope through the aid of lip reading.For many deaf children, however, there will be lengthy periods of isolation when
they will find it difficult to talk to other children at school, or in the neighbourhood. That sense of isolation can lead
to much deeper problems when a child feels friendless and alone.
What does NDCS do for deaf children
and their families in Northern Ireland?Founded in 1944, NDCS is dedicated to creating a world without barriers for deaf
children and young people. We represent the interests and campaign for the rights of all deaf children and young people from
birth until they lead independent lives. NDCS supports the deaf child through the family as well as directly supporting deaf
children and young people themselves.NDCS in Northern Ireland - - Provides advice and information for parents of deaf children on education issues, benefits and
moving into training and employment.
- Runs a range of family weekends at
which the whole family. Parents meet one another, learn about deafness and how to best support their deaf child, while deaf
children can meet other deaf children, and brothers and sisters can get involved in the fun.
- Runs a wide range of sports activities for deaf children, including football, basketball etc
- Helps Football coaches work with deaf children – NDCS have produced a dvd for football
coaches on how to communicate with deaf children. We have also run training sessions for football coaches with the support
of teams such as Arsenal and Liverpool. In Northern Ireland we are working closely with Belfast Deaf United.
- Runs specialist football coaching for deaf young people. This year we are planning to run three
such sessions with the IFA.
- Runs activity holidays for deaf children
and young people, with leaders who have been trained to communicate with deaf children ( and paddle canoes, rock climb etc
)
- Runs an annual Film project for deaf children in partnership with BBC Blast.
- Runs an Arts programme for deaf children of all ages.
NDCS as an organisation.
NDCS ensures that there is regional support for these activities, with 12 regional directors
and offices in Cardiff, Belfast, Birmingham, Glasgow and London; local support via network of 35 home based
family officers - all providing balanced information on all aspects of childhood deafness and emotional support for families
of deaf children; advocacy work to help families of deaf children secure their rights; dedicated family programme at key developmental
stages in the deaf child’s life and dedicated sports, arts and outdoor activities and personal development training
for young deaf people. NDCS opened its office
in Belfast in 1997. By establishing a dedicated Northern Ireland Team, we have been be able to involve
and consult families at grassroots level, develop close working relationships with professionals, develop appropriate services
to meet families’ needs locally and increase our campaigning and lobbying work. Whilst statutory services do provide
some information and technical aids to deaf children and their families they are not able to provide the all-encompassing
information and impartial advice and support which NDCS is able to provide. NDCS NI provides immediate
and on-going information, advice and support on all issues surrounding childhood deafness to families living in the province;
ensures NDCS services are relevant in the country context; supports the development of volunteer and parent networks; organises events and activities for deaf children, young deaf people and their families; and works with
government departments and other statutory and voluntary bodies to influence policy in relation to deafness and to promote
joint working between health, social and education services.
NDCS Northern Ireland staff: Alan Sheeran, Director Northern Ireland, is charged with achieving
systematic change at a national level. Alan
reports to Brian Gale, Director of Policy and Campaigns, who is a member of the NDCS executive directorate based in the London
office. Alan works to ensure that the work of NDCS is relevant to the Northern Ireland context, particularly
in relation to the separate legislative and management background for education and health services in Northern Ireland.Celine Heatley,
Administrator, is the first point of call when families and professionals contacting the Northern Ireland office.
Celine is responsible for day to day running of the office and its resources, and for providing full time administrative
support for the Northern Ireland team.
Irene Bell and Barbara Wilson are both Family Officers. Irene
and Barbara are responsible for providing immediate and on-going support, impartial information and advice to enable families
with deaf children to make the best choices for their children and achieve the benefits to which they are entitled.
As Irene and Barbara are each a parent of a deaf child herself, they are well placed to offer emotional support,
to give parents a more positive view of deafness, and help them to realise that they are not alone.Wendy Gallagher, Programme Coordinator, is responsible for delivering
the programme of events for parents, families and young deaf people in Northern Ireland. Wendy is a member
of the UK wide training and events team. Wendy has led the development and delivery of family events in Northern Ireland,
in particular the weekends for families with newly identified deaf children and those for families with deaf children with
additional needs.
These have been so successful that NDCS is now rolling them out in England, Scotland
and Wales.Stacey Kilpatrick, Arts Officer, is
responsible for delivering a dedicated arts programme for deaf children and young people in Northern Ireland. Stacey is a member of the UK wide training and events team.
NDCS has been delivering a dedicated
arts programme since opening our office in Belfast. Stacey has been so successful in engaging young deaf
people and ensuring they drive the development of the programme in Northern Ireland that arts events will be offered as elements
to pilot arts provision in the youth programme in the other countries.
Northern Ireland
based staff with UK-wide remit:Pauline Walker, Deputy Director Families, has the
remit to manage the UK wide family service team which includes the UK wide family programme for families and parents, the
UK wide healthy minds development programme, the family officer team north England and the family officer team south England.
Pauline is a senior member of the children, families and young people’s department and reports directly to the director
who is a member of the executive directorate.Caroline Doherty, Emotional Health & Wellbeing Manager, has been responsible for delivering a dedicated healthy
minds project for deaf children in Northern Ireland. This work has been so successful that Caroline has
been confirmed in post as a permanent member of the UK wide children, families and young people’s department where she
will lead the development of both country specific and UK wide NDCS preventative mental health work.Michael Johnston, Youth Training & Development Manager, is responsible
for designing and delivering the training and development programmes to meet the diverse needs of young deaf people across
the UK. Michael is a member of the children and young people’s team which is working UK wide with
young deaf people themselves to enable participation and to develop a youth led service.
Drum United player allegedly ASSAULTS referee The Fermanagh and
Western Football Association are to launch an investigation after an alleged assault on referee Michael McGlinchey during
the Drum United v Orchard Farm game at Cranny Bridge on Saturday. The alledged assault took place after Gerry Love's Orchard Farm side took the lead in the first
half. The referee showed a red card to a Drum
United player after he verbally abused the official for allowing the goal, the home side claiming that it was offside.
Basil Marshall, Chairman of the Fermanagh and Western Referees Association has confirmed that the referee's report is
alleging that the player then came back on to the pitch and aimed a kick at McGlinchey with the referee then abandoning the
game.
He added that his main concern is for
the safety of the referee. "Our first
concern is that he is okay. He was pretty shook up and angry that it happened. He was also annoyed that nobody from Drum made
any approach to him and it emphasises what I've been saying for the past few years, that clubs should have somebody like
a liaison officer who would deal with situations like this. I would also be concerned that there was no changing rooms as
it left the referee out in the open and nowhere he could go where he would feel safe and it asks the question of whether changing
rooms should be a necessity." "I
have no doubt that the Fermanagh and Western will deal with it in the efficient way that they always do," he stated.
The Fermanagh and Western FA havthe referee
received the referee's report and the matter is sure to be dealt with in the New Year
CYRIL APPLAUDED ON BY PLAYERS
Cyril Walker this week was deserved as by Fermanagh and Western Football League, Gordon Lee
as one of gentlemen of the Fermanagh and Western and these words are supported by anyone you speak to in the last week as
the Sion Mills whistler was applauded onto the pitch by Fintona Swifts and Ballinamallard United before there game at the
Bawnacre on Saturday.
The quiet man of refereeing as a remarkable five Mulhern Cup Finals one as referee and four as
an assistant, he also refereed the Reihill Cup Final while been assistant referee on two occasions. Cyril also refereed
the Kennedy Cup final and as been assistant referee twice.
At Intermediate Level Walker took charge of the
Ballymena Intermediate McReynolds Cup Final 1999 and Northern Ireland Intermediate League Cup Final 2000.
In the Irish League Cyril was regarded as a top notch assistant with highlight being on the line twice in Linfield
v Cliftonville games, this only a small outline of what Cyril achieved and he as his own personnel record of games from that
day in Victoria Bridge and we all wish him all best in the years ahead.
Cyril
makes it 1000 Appointments
Cyril first game was back in August 1987 when he refereed
Victoria Bridge Reserves and Bells Park Reserves and since then he as moved through ranks to Intermediate Level. The quiet
man was a very good assistant referee in the Iirsh League and along the way made many friends and as became very valued member
of the Fermnaagh and Western Referees Association.
Cyril as refereed the Reihill, Mulhern and Kennedy Cup Finals and
several Youth finals in his 22 year career as a referee, he been a great serveant to refereeing and Chairman Basil Marshall
said " Cyril a gentleman and good friend who will referee a game anywhere make no complaints and just
get on with it, he example to all the new referees and a very important member of the association
BEST AT THE BAWNACRE
The Association October meeting will have IFA Instructor
David Best as speaker in the Bawnacre Centre Irvinestown on Monday night at 8pm.
David a former senior referee with a
wealth of experience as become one of the IFA top Referee Instructors and he makes return to Fermanagh and Western by
request of the members.
The Glengormley man as spent a week away with UEFA getting further training on referee instructing
and this will be of great benefit to all the Country and the Association are pleased that he will be attending Monday meeting.
All members are asked to make special effort to attend as the David talk will be of benefit to you the next time your refereeing
GRIMES
REWARDED WITH FINAL
Omagh Referee Declan Grimes now in
his second season as a referee as been making steady progress and as been appointed to Friday Brendan Keogh Youth League, Under
14 Cup Final when Enniskillen Rangers Youth play Ballinamallard Youth at Youth Sport Omagh.
Decky will have Tony Sharkey
(Omagh) and Cyril Walker (Sion Mills) as the two assistant referees while new kid on the block Stephen Northern will be fourth
official.
MARSHALL APPOINTED TO CUP FINAL
Irvinestown referee and Association Chairman, Basil Marshall will referee Friday night Brendan Keogh League Cup Final at
Youth Sport Omagh when Killen Rangers Youth play Ballinamallard Youth.
The assistant referees are Roy Beacom (Kesh) and
Luke Ormsby (Enniskillen) with David Hamilton (Enniskillen) fourth official.
ARNOLD TO REFEREE YOUTH INTERNATIONAL ON SKY TV
Maguiresbridge referee Arnold Hunter will referee the opening game in 2009/10 Sky Sports Victory
Shield at Ballymena Showgrounds when Northern Ireland play Scotland on Thursday 1st October 2009 with 7.40pm kick off.
The assistants for the game with be Tommy Fairfield and Andrew Neeson with Hugh Carvill as 4th Official.
CAMPBELL TO
REFEREE LOWRY CORRY CUP FINAL
The Lowry Corry Cup Final will be refereed
by Wesley Campbell next Wednesday night when Dergview play Ballinamallard at Youth Sport Omagh. Campbell now in his third
season as been doing really well and this season as been selected for the IFA National Development Group as
a talent and referees in the IFA Premier Reserve and IFA Youth League as well as FWFL.
It will be busy week
for Augher man as he as Brendan Keogh Under 15 League Cup to referee on the Friday night and on Monday as Association
meeting, Tuesday training and Thursday IFA National Development meeting and training in Antrim which shows how much commitment
involved in being a referee.
The assistants for the final are Joshua Porter who also on the Ladbrookes.com Championship
assistant referees list and continues where he left of last season while Tony Sharkey will be the other assistant and he also
part of National Development group and as been appointed as an assistant in Ladbrookes.com Championship this season.
The
fourth official David Anderson continues to make strides refereeing in the IFA Premier Reserve League and IFA Youth League,
he also assistant referee in Carling Premier League and Ladbrookes.com Championship.
Without doubt all four have potential
to take there refereeing careers to highest level in Northern Ireland and the assoction wishes them all
best in the final
CAMPBELL REFEREES UNDER 15 LEAGUE CUP FINAL
Clogher Valley whistler Wesley Campbell will referee this season Under 15 League Cup Final at Youth
Sport Omagh when Ballinamallard Youth play Enniskillen Rangers Youth on Friday 2nd October at 8pm, Wesley as been mainly refereeing
this season in IFA Premier Reserve League. The assistants for the Final will be David Anderson (Tempo) and Joshua Porter (Sixmilecross)
with the experience Kieran Quigley (Lisnaskea) as fourth official.
LAIRD TO REFEREE LEAGUE CUP FINAL
|
|
| Adie Laird will referee BKYL Under 13 League Cup Final |
The Brendan Keogh
Youth League have appointed the officials for the Under 13 League Cup Final on the Friday 2nd October 2009 between Enniskillen
Rangers Youth and Mountjoy United Juniors with referee for the game being Castlederg whistler Adie Laird with the assistants
being Pat Chesters Omagh and Nigel Harpur Castlederg while Kevin Taggart Omagh will be fourth official. The Association
wishes them all congratulations on this appointment and its reward for effort during the BKYL season.
JIMMY SMYTH BACK IN CONTROL
|
|
| Jimmy Smyth welcomed back to refereeing |
JJB
SPORTS IRISH CUP ROUND 1
Saturday 19th September 2009
Bryansburn Rangers
v NFC Kesh
Newcastle v Ardstraw
Mountjoy United v Crewe United
Byes: Omagh United and Fivemiletown United
Harry Cavan Irish Youth Cup
Saturday 3rd October 2009
Enniskillen Town United Colts v Bryansburn Under 18
Dergview
III v Ballinamallard United Youth
Fivemiletown United II v Newry City Wanderers
Irvinestown Wanderers Colts v Portadown
III
Coca
Cola Irish Junior
Saturday 19th September 2009
Tollymore Swifts v Enniskillen
Town United
1st Bangor II v Ballygawley
Strathroy Harps v Ballyvance
Omagh Hospitals v The Don
Fivemiletown
United II v Portavogie Rangers
Clabby Strollers v Downpatrick II
Lisnaskea Rovers v Lurgan Celtic II
Churchtown
v Whitehead Eagles
Mountjoy United Reserves v Ballymoney Olympic
Barrowfield v Dunbreen Rovers
Killen Rangers
v West Belfast
Beragh Swifts v Annalong Swifts
Dromore Amateurs v Ballinamallard United Reserves
Newtownbreda
v Lisnarick
BBOB v Maguiresbridge
Rooftop v NFC Kesh Reserves
Saturday
26th September 2009
Irvinestown Wanderers v Lincoln Court
Enniskillen Rangers
v Fintona Swifts
Augher Stars v Silverwood
Shelbourne v Belvoir
Derrychara United v Sranmillis
Enniskillen
Santos v Newry Celtic
Glebe United v Tullygally
Dungannon Rovers v Enniskillen Swifts
Bohemains v Spamount
Swifts
Hill Street v Lisbellaw United
Draperstown Celtic Reserves v Dergview Reserves
CLARE APPOINTED TO REFEREE IRISH CUP SEMI-FINAL
|
|
| Clare Noble who refereed Irish Womens Cup smi final |
Castlederg woman Clare Noble will referee the Coca Cola Irish Womens Cup
at Taylors Avenue Carrickferris on Monday night when Newbridge Predators play Glentoran Belfast United. Clare will have two members from the Association on the line, Letterbreen Valerie McManus
and Sixmilecross Joshua Porter with both her assistants also on the Championship lines and Clare as been mentor for both for
last year.
MEMBERS ARE THE CREAM OF THE MILK CUP
|
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| David Hamilton on the line at the Milk Cup |
Tony the FWRA entry for X Factor
|
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| Our very own entry for X Factor |
ROY REFEREES UNDER 18 FINAL AT
FOYLE CUP
The 18 members
that are at Foyle Cup are having a great time, with news that on Friday Roy Beacom will referee the Under 18 Plate Final between
Insitute and Morecombe Youth at Melvin Centre Strabane at 7pm with Stephen Northern and Luke Ormsby the assistants. In
the afternoon at St Columbs Park Adie Laird at 4pm will referee the under 10 Final.
DAVID ON THE LINE
David Anderson was asssistant referee team in the Under 18 Foyle Cup Final when Motherwell
played Derry City at Ardmore on Friday evening. It another good acheivement for the young Tempo referee
|
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| Roy Beacom referee in Foyle Cup Final Plate |
PR-SEASON GAMES
All appointments for referees for pre-season friendly and tournaments must
come through Basil Marshall, the Association would asked you not to contact the referee direct.
For any games which have teams from IFA Premier and Championship will have
three officials appointed while Intermediate and Junior games will have referee only unless otherwise requested.
He can contact by email @ basilref@hotmail.com or 07821561204
FEE INCREASE AGREED WITH IFA
The IFA and Northern Ireland
Referees Association have agreed fees for next three seasons and then another review will take place to look at bringing our
referees in line with Countries of same size in Europe.
Junior Referees from start of 2009/10 season fees will be £30 per game
for next two seasons with a further increase to £35 in the third season.
Divisional Intermediate fee will remain at £40 for new season but will
increase to £45 10/11 season and further increase to £50 the next season.
Championship One and Two referees fee remains at £70 for incoming
season and increase and will move to £75 for next two seasons with assistants on £35.
There are also increase at Senior Level for next three seasons also
and overall going in right direction for refereeing.
All Divisional Associations and Leagues have been informed and therefore
Clubs will be aware for opening games of the season.
The Northern Ireland Referees
Association have negotiated the following fees for the next three seasons
|
Category |
Season 09-10 |
Season 10-11 |
Season 11-12 |
|
Senior Referee |
£150 |
£170 |
£170 |
|
Senior Assistant |
£75 |
£85 |
£85 |
|
4th Official |
£75 |
£85 |
£85 |
|
Championship Referee (Div 1 & 2) |
£70 |
£75 |
£75 |
|
Championship Assistant |
£35 |
£35 |
£35 |
|
Divisional Intermediate |
£40 |
£45 |
£50 |
|
Junior |
£30 |
£30 |
£35 |
18 MEMBERS NAMED FOR FOYLE CUP
Association Chairman Basil Marshall confirmed the following referees will be
refereeing at this year Foyle Cup, Pat Chetsers, Adie Laird, Cyril Walker, Michael Connolly, Nigel Harpur, John Coyle, Joshua
Porter, David Anderson, Sam Armstrong, James Farrell and Glen Scott.
It all starts on Tuesday 21st July with opening Parade from University through
the city Centre and then its five days football with as many as four games for our membes.
The Association will cover games each day in Strabane and referees
for this are Stephen Northern, Roy Beacom, Luke Ormsby, Paddy McRory, Basil Marshall, Valerie McManus and Declan Grimes
THREE REFEREES MOVE TO INTERMEDIATE LEVEL JOHN
COYLE, DAVID HAMILTON AND RONNIE GRAHAM
The Association have had three referees upgraded from Junior Referees to Intermediate
Level and this reward for all there hard work, committment and performances over last few seasons.
Ronnie Graham refereed the Mulhern and Kenendy Cup Finals last season and as shown
great committment since becoming a referee.
John Coyle without doubt one of the top Junior referees over last number
of seasons and deserves the move to Intermediate Level.
David Hamilton as been member of IFA National Development group and refereed
the Reihill Cup Final last season, he also made debut in IFA Championship when he refereed Dergview v Armagh City.
All three deserve the move to the higher level.
|
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| Ronnie Graham one of three referees upgraded to Intermediate Level |
CLARE AND VALERIE RECEIVE APPOINTMENTS
IN THE IRISH CUP QUATER-FINALS
Clare Noble and Valerie McManus have received appointments in the quater
finals of Coca Cola Womens Irish Cup on Monday 20th July 2009.
Valerie will referee Cup holders Glentoran Belfast United when they
play hosts to Coleraine Ladies from the Championship, while Clare will take charge of Newbridge Predators against the inform
YMCA
Co-Operative Insurance Cup first round - Ties to be played on Saturday 29 August and Monday 7 September
Limavady United v Glebe Rangers
Coagh United v Ards
Ballyclare Comrades v Carrick Rangers
Ballymoney United v Larne
Donegal Celtic v Loughgall
Bangor v Ballinamallard United
Byes - Banbridge Town, Armagh City
Co-Operative Cup Insurance Cup second round - Ties to be played on Saturday 26 September and Tuesday 6 October
Banbridge Town v Ballymoney United/Larne
Ards/Coagh United v Bangor/Ballinamallard Utd
Armagh City v Donegal Celtic/Loughgall
Ballyclare Comrades/Carrick Rangers v Limavady Utd/Glebe Rangers
Round three dates - Saturday 31 October and Tuesday 10 November
Quarter-finals - Saturday 5 December and Tuesday 15 December
Semi-finals - Tuesday 2 February, 2010 and Wednesday 3 February, 2010
Final - Saturday 27 March, 2010
REFEREES BEIGINNERS COURSE
The
Irish F A in conjunction with the Fermanagh & Western Referees Association has organised two referee beginners’
courses to try and recruit more officials for youth and junior football in the area.
The
first course will start on Thursday September 18 at the Bawnacre Centre in Irvinestown at 8pm and will run for six weeks.
On
completion of the course participants will be qualified to referee at junior level in the Fermanagh & Western League,
and hopefully take the first step up the refereeing ladder.
Cost
of the course is £30 which includes the referee registration fee for the season, and a referee starter pack.
Local
referee society Chairman Basil Marshall states, “I hope we can attract some new recruits to refereeing through these
courses, there are many great opportunities now to develop and progress as a referee”
I
F A Referee Development Officer Alan Snoddy comments, “We are trying through these
courses to help alleviate the shortfall of referees in junior football and I would encourage anyone interested in refereeing
to attend”
Anyone
interested is asked to turn up on the first night for registration with Basil Marshall, Irish F A Referee Instructor.
For
further enquiries about referee beginners courses please e mail fwrefs@hotmail.com or referees@irishfa.com or you could phone Arnie Hunter 02866387972
PLAYERS SAFETY - NO JEWELLERY
Referees are been asked to strickly enforce Law 4, The Players Equipment.
Safety
A
player must not use enquiqment or wear anthing which is dangerous to himself or another player (including any kind of jewellery)
All
items of jewellery (necklaces, rings, bracelets, earrings, leather bands, rubber bands etc) are stricktly forbidden and must
be removed. Using tape to cover jewellery is not acceptable
PLAYERS SAFETY - NO JEWELLERY
Referees are been asked to strickly enforce Law 4, The Players Equipment.
Safety
A
player must not use enquiqment or wear anthing which is dangerous to himself or another player (including any kind of jewellery)
All
items of jewellery (necklaces, rings, bracelets, earrings, leather bands, rubber bands etc) are stricktly forbidden and must
be removed. Using tape to cover jewellery is not acceptable
DAVID MALCOLM REPLIES TO REPORTER
AND IFA INTERMEDIATE COMMITTEE MEMBER
Dear Sir
In your edition of 18 August you afforded Robert Fenton the
opportunity to 'give his views on where it all went wrong' in respect
of the recent action by Referees that led to
the postponement of the
new JJB Irish Premiership opening day fixtures.
Robert was correctly introduced as a member
of the Irish FA
Intermediate Committee. However the article did not clarify that Robert
is a very distinguished sports
journalist for your very own paper and
as such has something of a unique and privileged position in football
through
his work inside the IFA and then as a journalist who reports on
it.
It is disappointing that Robert has attempted
to deflect the
shortcomings of others by blaming us for what unfolded last week. That
in itself is not unusual, referees
are easy targets after all. But if
we are to truly learn from this and deliver the changes Robert himself
so passionately
advocates, then he and his colleagues who have been
involved in this sorry episode must face up, like we have, to their
own
responsibility here and not seek to blame everyone else and pretend all
is in order in their own camp.
For
example, Robert tells us that this new Championship league took 5
years to set up and strict ground criteria, including
floodlighting was
imperative. It was also named the Premier Intermediate League. Well
established clubs like Dundela
and Harland and Wolff Welders who have
played so successfully at that level for many years were in effect
relegated
to the third division because they didn't meet strict new
entry criteria for the Championship. But later Robert says this
Championship is of ordinary intermediate status like many others across
Northern Ireland. Well I'm sorry, but that
doesn't stack up for anybody
looking objectively at this. Why would you take 5 years setting up just
another Intermediate
League and why would you insist on higher entry
criteria? Why on earth would you call it a Premier Intermediate League
if in fact it wasn't actually Premier to those similar status leagues
Robert talks about?
Most worrying of
all however is the alleged reason that there are not
enough referees available to staff this new level of football.
Has
Robert and his colleagues not noticed that with a smaller
Premier league this season, there are now less games at that
level . There are also less reserve team games.
This automatically released up to 10 extra referees who could
have
been used in the Championship this season, reducing the need to
'pilfer'
at most just 6 more referees. If Robert and
his Committee
want the footballing public to believe that the IFA across all grades of
referees in Northern Ireland
can not find 6 extra referees then I'm
afraid that in itself is a shocking indictment on the the IFAs referee
recruitment
and retention strategy for the last umpteen years!
We have long since advocated that many Intermediate games could
be
played midweek to free up referees and yes spectators to watch and
officiate these. For example, why do the Reserve
teams of Premiership
clubs kick off in competition every Saturday afternoon with their first
team? Why can those Championship
clubs with floodlights not stagger
kick offs across other days in the week other than Saturday? Has
Roberts Intermediate
Committee asked itself why every match under their
jurisdiction has to start at basically the same time as each other
every week in direct competition to each other, not to mention
Premiership teams like Linfield and Glentoran?
Our dispute was never about money or status. We most certainly were
not 'itching for a fight at any cost'. This sort
of attitude betrays
the real problems that referees across all grades face from those who
are supposed to be in positions
of responsibility and authority. With
that attitude, is it any wonder we decided to take a stand and say
enough is
enough?
I said from the outset this dispute was about the value and worth that
people put on referees in our
game. Our action came about because
people just didnt want to listen, they had ignored and marginalised us
for that
long it became second nature to them. If Roberts views
represent the thinking of the wider membership of his Committee
or
others in the corridors of power at Windsor Avenue, then it seems our
message hasnt yet been properly understood
and people still think they
can blame, bully and ignore the elephant that remains at large in the
room.
Regards
David Malcolm
Chairman
Northern Ireland Referees Association
PLAYERS SAFETY - NO JEWELLERY
Referees are been asked to strickly enforce Law 4, The Players Equipment.
Safety
A player must not use enquiqment or wear
anthing which is dangerous to himself or another player (including any kind of jewellery)
All items of jewellery (necklaces,
rings, bracelets, earrings, leather bands, rubber bands etc) are stricktly forbidden and must be removed. Using tape
to cover jewellery is not acceptable
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