Click on one of the below or scroll down.
Following last month's sad news, it was inevitable that there would be further mention of Roland in this month's edition of the Newsletter. Due to time constraints, I was unable to include anything but the bare essebtials in last month's edition. However, it was, of course, always my intention to follow this up in more depth this month. This has not been difficult, as ideas and suggestions have come from various angles. Colin Morris' words at Roland's funeral summed up what Roland was about. I am sure those of you who were present - and there were many - will agree. I considered reproducing the text, but felt that it had already been said at the appropriate time. However, Colin has provided a suitable obituary, which is included, and John Bradley was sufficiently moved to put pen to paper and produce a poem which we can all relate to. Our memories of Roland, along with his profound influence in making our Branch the best, will remain forever.
This month's Newsletter also includes contributions from Brian Foreman and Mark Field. Brian's article relates to the recent newspaper item about a seagull "scoring" a goal, and includes plenty of food for thought, especially for our newer members. Mark has produced two articles, one entitled "Setting The Standard", which is both rare and refereshing, and was written by a coach at Brackley Town FC for their match programme for the Hellenic League game against Pegasus on 23rd October. The other is an interesting comparison between refereeing in Kent and refereeing in Oxfordshire, where Mark is now based. It is easy to take things in life for granted, and as members of a Branch like Gravesend we do not always appreciate quite what we have. As most of us have only ever been a member of this Branch, we don't know any different, but when I spoke to Mark recently, I began to realise how fortunate we are.
As in the past, I have also tried to bring a light hearted feel to the Christmas Newsletter. This year we have a Name Game Quiz, which I actually tried out on a work colleague recently. It was great to see him struggling to think of the answers, and the cringes and groans were even more rewarding. Unfortunately, I will no be there to see you all suffer, but I trust you will!!
There are also a couple of articles in the pipeline, but you'll have to wait until the next millennium for those. Don't forget to let me know of any snippets you might hear of.
Finally, it just remains for me to wish all Branch members and their famillies a very Happy Christmas and a prosperous New Year / Decade / Century / Millennium or whatever you want to call it.
All articles produced herein are those of the Branch unless otherwise stated.
All articles to Ian Miles, 17 Church Farm Road, Upchurch, Kent ME9 7AG, Telephone 01634 235148, Mobile 0836 - 353851, E-mail ian.miles@marshalls.co.uk..
OBITUARY
ROLAND GAWLER
The Gravesend Branch and the Kent Referees Association lost one of its great personalities and stalwarts in Roland Gawler on the 2nd November after a brave struggle against cancer.
Roland was the epitome of the referees motto "Service before Self". An active referee for over thirty years, he served the Kent League, Gravesend Football League and the North Kent Sunday Football League with outstanding recognition and achieved the distinction of being appointed to every Cup Final the Leagues had to offer.
It was his service to refereeing that will be his lasting legacy for future henerations of referees. He served on the management committee of the Gravesend Football League for twenty two years, nineteen as Referees Secretary. He was a Football Association Referee Instructor and was Kents' Area Training Representative. He served more than twenty years as vice Chairman of the Kent Referees Association, and a member of the County Coaching and Training Committee, becoming Chairman in 1993. Within his Branch he served the committee for twenty eight continuous years as Fund Raiser, Social Secretary, Treasurer, County Delegate, Chairman and for the last sixteen years as Branch Coach. He was a Vice President and was honoured as Referee of the Year in 1974. He received his MSA award in 1997.
It was his quizzing exploits that made him known throughout refereeing circles. As team member, then as manager he led the Gravesend Branch to 17 County championships, 13 Southern Division victories and three times National Champions. He then crossed the floor to become question master. Serving his County and many others in the Southern Division. In his normal manner, he was firm, fair and still managed to throw in some humour. He was quiz master for the Southern Division Finals. However, his legacy of success with the Gravesend team continually thwarted his final goal - Quiz Master for the National Final. But fate dealt its hand. Gravesend lost their County Championship after seventeen continuous years and the Referees Association were quick to invite him to the ultimate accolade. In April this year, at Coventry City Football Club he achieved his burning ambition, National Quiz Master.
For the service at Milton Parish Church over 450 were in attendance from all walks of the football fraternity, a moving tribute to the admiration and affection that he was held in. The Committal was at Eltham Crematorium where Gravesend Branch members acted as bearers. Assistants flags were draped over the coffin as a tribute to his dedication and devotion to refereeing.
Our sympathies are with his family. He leaves a wife Maureen, daughter Kate and son Keith. He will never be forgotten, he brought a ray of light and humour to so many, football, and refereeing in particular, are all the poorer for his passing.
Gravesend Branch
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
ROLAND
On his bed, there he lay, just watching night turn into day.
People come and people go, he needed someone to scratch his toe.
Lying there was not much fun, he wanted to be out, in the sun.
He dreamt of days when he refereed, in the wind and rain, that's
Where he wanted to be
Out among all his friends, where his life would never end.
The camaraderie and comradeship are the things he will miss,
Surely being here was just a blip, in his life that was so full,
Surely, this was not the final call.
A laugh and joke with the players all, as they kicked each other,
and that spherical ball.
He knew the laws, he taught them well, the players had respect
for him,
You could always tell.
Just by turning up, he could get a 10, but they knew he knew his
stuff,
And when, he flashed a card under their nose, they would just
walk away,
No arguments, that's how it goes.
In his prime, he was very good, those little legs he used, to run
as fast
As he could. He did it right, the best, as a good referee should.
He was a good assessor too, when the foot was in the other shoe.
He wanted to bring the good ones through, he taught all those
from
Gravesend that's true.
However, the good ones will always shine, that is a truth of his
and mine.
He loved to see a referee look smart, black shirt, black shorts,
polished boots, white
laces, that was the art. Know your assessor that's the game, but
you had to be good,
that was his aim.
He had a wonderful social side too, organising and planning,
That was what he was able to do. All the roles he undertook,
He did them all by the book. Good at those, he was as well,
He took thr Branch forward, that you can tell. He wanted thr
Branch
To grow and swell, to be involved, but enjoy it as well.
Good times were had, the times were good, he enjoyed himself,
As all people should. Maureen was there, by his side, with Kate
and Keith
To share his pride, of a family, so proven, so strong, nothing
ever could go wrong.
He excelled at what he did best, being Branch Coach to all the
rest.
His double act of sym and bolic was not the act of an alcoholic.
But a method of getting the message across, as a coach he was,
the Boss.
For all those years he had that role, to teach us all that was
his goal.
The 17 Laws and 10 offences, he gave to us and said use your
senses.
You know what's right and what is wrong, know and use the Laws,
that was his song.
He enjoyed it all, that coaching time, the little acts, the bits
of mime.
I have a memory of the ball out of play, I will always remember
how
He taught me that, on the day.
He took the game into added time, there he tried and did his
best,
But now he has gone for the final rest.
He has done his time as all good people do, but now he has gone
And we shall miss him too.
The memories are all so bright, of a person who was always right.
He shall be missed, the little man, lets try to live up to his
standards, if we can.
Rest in Peace Roland.
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
In view of the recent sad losses of Roland and Irene, the Branch is making a collection to donate to the Lions Hospice or the Ellenor Foundation. A collection was made at the November Branch meeting, but if you were unable to make a donation at the time and you would still like to do so, then you can send a cheque, made payable to The Gravesend Branch KRA, to our Branch Secretary, Bernie Cheeseman at 5 Rushdean Road, Strood, Rochester, Kent ME2 2PA. Alternatively, you can contact any Committee member.
Once again, last weekend's post match dialogue was dominated by the performance of the officials. Sadly I am not just referring to our fixture against North Leigh, but it seems, half the games around the Country.
My view is a simple one - I blame the managers and players for all the cautions. They should focus their attentions solely on their own task - that of playing to the best of their ability, individually and, as a consequence, collectively. A fiercely competitive team, verbally, physically and mentally, can also equally be hugely disciplined and focussed.
Managers and players should set an example when communicating in the media. They should be more careful with their comments and despite the financial pressures and rewards, realise that sport is the thing - the medium from which they pay their bills.
Do they realise the effect they have on young peoples sporting habits?
As a teacher of Physical education for ten years, I need to continually remind questioning youngsters that officials simply act (immediately) on what they see. No human is perfect and honest mistakes will continue to occur. I do support the call for "professional" referees, but mistakes (so called) will not be eradicated.
It is in preparation and evaluation, when the management sets the standard of behaviour from players. They are the ones with a direct effect on players' habits, attitudes and above all bank balances.
The media would support this professionalism and responsible stance. We could then enjoy the great skills and performances by the players and the game of football would be the winner.
Matt Haycocks
Am I right or am I wrong?
Recently I was shown an article in the Daily Mail, (Friday 1st October 1999), Seagull Scores with Header. What do think of that?, I was asked, as the article was placed in front of me. Sounds very dubious to me, I said, but let me read the article first. Having read the article with some amusement, realising there must have been some journalistic licence in the actual story, I then became a little worried and somewhat annoyed. It's not a goal, I replied. Goals cannot be scored by outside agents. The Seagull would be or should be considered an outside agent.
The serious part of the article, as far as I am concerned, are the quotes by the match Referee and the F.A. spokesman. It has to be said that reading such quotes in a newspaper could be questionable. However lets assume they have been correctly reported.
Match Referee Damien Whelan, who has six years experience, said: " If the ball does not go out of the pitch area it can't be disallowed. Even a dog can score a goal. The F.A. rules that it does not have to be a player for the team that scores the goal". Steve Double, spokesman for the Football Association, said: " To the best of my knowledge a seagull has never scored a goal in football before. The Referee was right. Whether the ball hits the Referee, a dog or any other animal, even a seagull, if it goes into the net it is a goal"
Well who is correct? The Referee and the F.A. spokesman seem certain it is a goal. (Who would argue with the F.A.?) In this instance, I would. I am certain it is not a goal and it should have been disallowed.
The Laws do not seem to be specific these days on such matters, i.e. outside agents. The only reference in the current 1999/2000 Laws of Association Football is in Law 5 The Referee. Bullet point 16 states " Ensure that no unauthorised person enters the field of play". (Make of that what you will for this argument!!).
However various training information that Referee Instructors receive from the F.A. for teaching Referee candidates is more specific. Under the section Interference by: Spectators, outside agents, dogs etc. The action is to, stop the game if necessary. (This would depend on the interference.)
Also in the training information is a section which deals with incidents when the game MUST be stopped. Several examples are given \endash Encroachment by spectators, substitutes, team officials or animals to the detriment of the conduct of the game. Other quotes are situation farcical or the threat to be so, interference with the ball or players is impedance.
Surely all of the above is clear evidence that the goal should not have been allowed! If this is indeed the case why did the F.A. spokesman get it wrong and no retraction of the incorrect information was forthcoming. The problem here is that people read such articles, which initially, are \ldblquote splashed\rdblquote in the press. The general public, players and perhaps younger/inexperienced Referees read such articles and get incorrect information. The damage done it is very difficult to correct it at a later stage. It certainly would not receive the same coverage. If the information comes from the F.A. then it must be correct!!?
Obviously this situation must be clarified with the R.A. and indeed the F.A., however I remain confident that the F.A. spokesman got it wrong and I am correct. If this is the situation perhaps in future the choice of spokesmen at the F.A. needs to be someone with the correct knowledge of the subject they are dealing with. Also perhaps the F.A need to consider the content of the LOAF more closely and make the necessary amendments.
Well what do you think? What would have been your reaction on the day had this happened in your game?
In keeping with the Christmas spirit, I thought it might be a bit of fun to include a name game. We've had them in the past, but this one is slightly different as the clues lead to the names of players in the Premiership. The number of foreign players involved has helped to make the quiz a bit more interesting, but even so, I ought tp warn you that there has been more than a little editorial licence on the spelling in some cases. The answers are on the back page.
1) Sheep barber
2) Movement of water.
3) Fire in December
4) Tropical fish
5) Above the red planet
6) Performances by musical groups
7) Someone who does not run
8) Roses, tulips, daffodils, pansies
9) Strong wind
10) An old king
11) Keanu Reeves film
12) TV Detective series
13) Sailor
14) Former Prime Minister
15) Small boat
16) 2,4,8,16,32
17) TV Animal welfare series
18) HJUNO
19) Something for the meter
20) Outside door at the bottom of the map
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
A COMPARISON OF REFEREING IN KENT AND OXFORDSHIRE
I have been asked to write a short article comparing refereeing in Kent and refereeing in Oxfordshire.
Refereeing in Kent at junior level i.e. North Kent Sunday League:
There is a high standard of refereeing in Kent so it can be tough at times. Players are consistantly on your back if you don't give the decision their way and on most occasions they will argue about every decision made.
Refereeing in Oxfordshire at junior level i.e. the Upper Thames Valley League:
Players in Oxfordshire are more laid back. They accept the referee's decision as final and will get on with the game and sometimes even apologise for committing fouls. This is evidenced by my only having to caution 8 players and send 2 off both for 2nd cautions.
Being an Assistant Referee in Kent:
Being an Assistant Referee in Kent on a KCFA Appointment or a County League game was always a pleasure because there are so many referees around and everybody works as a team, ready to give advice and assistance.
Being an Assistant Referee in Oxfordshire:
Being an Assistant Referee in Oxfordshire is different. You very rarely travel to a game as a team, once you are there the referee is very much the man on his own with two guys who just run the line for him. Obviously there are the odd exceptions but very few.
The Gravesend Branch Referee's Association:
Not a lot you can say here because its reputation speaks for itself. A well supported Branch with lots of knowledge and experience. Referees will get together to discuss their games and talk over problems. You will receive the support you would expect from the colleagues around you.
The North Berks Referee's Association:
10 people is a good night, support is very sparse, very few guest speakers. Referees do not meet up socially.
Mark Field
Answers to Name Game Quiz:-
1) Shearer; 2) Flo; 3) Winterburn; 4) Guppy; 5) Overmars; 6) Giggs; 7) Walker; 8) Flowers; 9) Gayle; 10) Cole; 11) Speed; 12) Taggart; 13) Seaman; 14) Thatcher; 15) Kanu; 16) Dublin; 17) Petrescu; 18) Juninho; 19) Gascoigne; 20) Southgate.
How did you get on? I hope you enjoyed this little bit of light relief as much as I enjoyed compling it. Hopefully, the answers became clear when you read them if you could not solve the clue yourself, but if you have a query, I will take great pleasure in explaining any answers to you!
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
DATES FOR YOUR NEW DIARY
If you get a new diary as a Christmas present, then you can start the new millennium by putting these social events into it.
Committee Meetings:
Thursday 6th January, Monday 7th February, Monday 6th March, Monday 3rd April, Thursday 27th April.
Branch Meetings:-
Monday 10th January - Coaching - Commission
Monday 14th February - Coaching - Lining
Monday 13th March - Coaching - TBA
Monday 10th April - Coaching - TBA
Monday 8th May - AGM
5th February 2000 - February Social at AEI Sports Club. This is now likely to be a Charity Race Night with proceeds going to the Lions Hospice.
13th May 2000 KRA Dinner & Dance at the Golf Club.
19th May 2000 KRA Dinner & Dance at Dartford.
9th June 2000 KRA AGM at Gravesend Rugby Club.
11th June 2000 KRA 5-a-side at Slade Green FC.
For details of any social event, please contact Social Secretary Mick Smith on 01474 - 743426, or any Committee member.
Please send any articles to Ian Miles, 17 Church Farm Road, Upchurch, Kent ME9 7AG, Tel: 01634 - 235148. Mobile: 0836 - 363851, E-Mail: ian.miles@marshalls.co.uk
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
