Sport

| Submit CommentSubmit Comments | View CommentsView Comments(1)

Why not be a ref?

Simon Smedley
16/11/2005

IT'S a problem that doesn't seem to be going away - referees for local league football are in desperately short supply.

The list of regularly available match officials in the two main Stockport Sunday leagues - the Stockport DSL and the Stockport and Cheadle SL - is dwindling, so much so that the Express is now urging anyone out there who might fancy life in the middle to get booked on a basic referee course in Stockport.

Bob Hurren from the Stockport Referee's Society said: "Demand is very high at the moment.

"Unfortunately less and less people appear to be making themselves available on Saturdays and Sundays due to a number of different pressures."

The problem is further highlighted by Stockport DSL Referee Appointments Secretary Malcolm Thorley, who added: "It is looking a bit grim at the moment.

"There are less and less new refs coming through, and to compound the problem the County FA are taking our officials for Cheshire Cup matches and the like.

"Sometimes they take three away for County FA duty, but it can be as many as six or seven sometimes.

"I'm then having to phone club secretaries on Saturday nights and, apart from the odd one, they simply won't play without a ref.

"Going back to last season I was having 55 refs on my list to cover 30 games, this year I've got 45 for 27 games.

"It is a problem, so any new blood would be more than welcome in our league and the Stockport and Cheadle."

Contact Bill Hines from the Stockport and District FA on 0161 285 0554 about the next basic referee course, which is set to run on eight consecutive Wednesday evenings at Stockport College from mid-January.


| Submit CommentSubmit Comments | View CommentsView Comments(1)


Most recent 1 of 1 user comments

   Managers, Secretaries & Players must start to take the responsibility of making sure they don't abuse referees. If local football does not sort out the problems with abuse to referees, I can see no local leagues surviving in the next 5 years. Only the football pyramid will be left.
Barry, stockport
16/11/2005 at 16:47
Have your say
 
Have your say Got an opinion you want to share?
Register now and have your comments heard.

Register now

Latest stories
 

 
Personal Finance
 

Customers with a 'good' credit profile
Company Typical APR
Platinum Exclusive Loan 7.8%
Halifax (Semi-exclusive) 8.6%
Bank of Scotland (Semi-exclusive) 8.6%
Alliance & Leicester 8.7%
Lloyds TSB 8.9%
HASH(0x2b5fe8285410)
Provider AER*
ICICI BANK
HiSAVE Savings Account 		5.50%
PRINCIPALITY BS
e-SAVER 		5.35%
ANGLO IRISH BANK
Easy Access Account Issue 2 		5.25%
FIRST DIRECT
Everyday e-Saver 		2.75%
ALLIANCE & LEICESTER
Online Tracker 		4.75%
BRADFORD & BINGLEY
eSavings 6 		4.60%
SAINSBURYS FINANCE
Internet Saver 		4.00%
ALLIANCE & LEICESTER
eSaver - Issue 2 		5.00%
POST OFFICE
Instant Saver 		3.75%
Fees may apply