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Hello, and welcome to the second Newsletter of the season. I
apologise for the gap since the last one, but with holidays, business
commitments, and some time consuming jobs around the house, the time has not
been available. Having said that, at a recent Committee meeting, I suggested a
number of articles which could be written by various Committee members to help
me out. So far, I have received just one, and Tony Scott’s article on his role
as Division One Chief Assessor is included in this edition. Thanks, Tony.
At the time of putting this Newsletter together, I cannot help but
feel a sense of insignificance about the whole thing. English football fans were
disappointed to hear about the closure of Wembley Stadium and it’s twin
towers. But at a time when the destruction of twin towers has taken on a
completely different meaning, football, along with pretty much everything else,
has become totally insignificant. The horrific events in New York and Washington
have dominated the news, as well as our personal thoughts, ever since that
fateful day, and I would like to express the sincere condolences of the
Gravesend Branch to anyone who has been affected by the tragedy. I am very
conscious of the fact that this Newsletter is posted on our Branch website, and
if anybody in America happens to read our little contribution, I hope they gain
a little comfort in the knowledge that we are thinking of them.
The football season is now well under way, and seems to have
started with a flurry of red cards. Not surprisingly, the fact that Premiership
referees are now professional has put them even more under the microscope. As
far as players, managers, and TV pundits are concerned, professional is defined
as infallible, so referees are now definitely not allowed to make a mistake.
However, if we apply the same logic to players, managers, and TV pundits, who
are all professionals in their own fields, we could have a programme lasting
several hours covering their mistakes. Misplaced passes, mistimed tackles,
missed open goals, and ignorance of the Laws of the Game could take care of the
entire Saturday evening TV schedule if the view was more balanced. But, of
course, that will never happen.
England have progressed very nicely, thank you very much, and are
now on the brink of winning their World Cup Qualifying Group. You would have to
go back to 1966 to find a more satisfying performance and scoreline than the 5-1
thrashing of Germany in Munich. Although the performance against Albania was
less inspiring, the result was what was needed, and if David Beckham continues
his current form and Michael Owen recovers from injury to find his form, then we
have every chance. The scepticism - including my own - around appointing a
foreign manager to the England team has all but disappeared, and a win against
Greece will round it all off nicely. Let’s hope it happens - we could all do
with some cheering up right now!
All articles to: Ian Miles, 17 Church Farm Rd, Upchurch, Kent ME9
7AG. Tel: 01634 - 235148.
All opinions expressed herein are not those of the Branch unless otherwise stated.
Many thanks to Tony Scott for the following article concerning his
new role of Chief Assessor for Division One of the KCFA. It gives an insight
into what happens “behind the scenes” for assessments, and should be of
particular interest to all Branch members who are up for promotion.
On the 1st of March 2001, I was officially appointed Chief Assessor
for Division One of the KCFA, taking over from John Newson, following his
promotion within the KCFA as the new Referees Officer.
Wasting no time before my official appointment, John and I set up a
meeting at the AEI Club on Wednesday 21st February for all of last year’s
promotional candidates together with those applying for promotion for the 2001
promotion scheme. The meeting was designed to explain to last season’s
successful Class 2 to 1 candidates what would be required of them now they had
been promoted to a Class One referee, and I am sure that John Newson will be
explaining more within his article of the Newsletter.
From my part, I spoke to the promotion candidates, both Class 2 to
1 and 3 to 2 outlining my requirements over the coming months as follows:
- The
promotion campaign was to start on the 1st March and continue
through to the end of December.
- All
relevant appointments should be forwarded on notification forms to the
Divisional
Chief Assessor.
-
Any amendments to details after the form is sent in, to phone the
Divisional Chief Assessor immediately.
-
Any short notice appointments which could be used for assessing, ring
DCA.
-
All closed dates should be notified to DCA in writing.
Class
2 referees seeking promotion to Class 1 are assessed four times, whilst Class 3
referees seeking promotion to Class 2 are assessed three times.
Once
I receive from a promotional candidate details of his appointments it is my job
then to decide what games are worthy of assessment and arrange for the assessor
to be present at the game.
Normally,
on a weekly basis I forward information to the KCFA Division One team of
assessors and they spend their Saturday afternoons or Sunday mornings attending
a match to assess a referee. On some occasions they will chat to the promotional
candidate before the game or afterwards just to clarify one or two things and
offer advise of how improvements can be made. He then provides me with a written
report on the referees performance together with a mark, which is forwarded to
the candidate without the mark within a period of four or five days from the
date of the game.
It
is the above report that the referee should analyse and ensure that he takes the
advice of the assessor to help him improve his performance and gain promotion.
During
the course of the season I have to report on the progress of promotional
candidates to the Referees Committee of the KCFA. Then at the February meeting,
a final report is made, and it is this Committee that decides whether or not a
referee is promoted.
A
letter is then forwarded to each candidate from The Chief Executive of the KCFA
after the above meeting, to advise him whether or not he has been successful.
The
above is a precis of the promotion scheme and the part within the scheme that I
play, which also comprises appointing match officials to the Kent Junior Cup and
Kent Sunday Cup competitions within Division One of the KCFA.
If
anyone should be interested in applying for promotion for the next campaign
which will commence on 1st March 2002, then please contact either the Kent
County Football Association direct at 69 Maidstone Road, Chatham, ME4 6DT, or
write to me at “Antara”, 1 The Maples, New Barn, Longfield, DA3 7JW, and I
will forward an application form.
As
well as arranging the meeting with promotional candidates, John and I also
arranged a meeting on Wednesday 14th March 2001 with all the Division One KCFA
Assessors. Peter Hunter, Chairman of the Referees Committee was in attendance
together with John Moules, the KCFA Referees’ Training Officer, who gave a
short talk with a question and answer session, which made for an enjoyable
evening. John Newson thanked all in attendance for their help and assistance
given to him during the years that he was Chief Assessor.
Tony
Scott
- Division
One Chief Assessor
We all know, having had it drummed into us over the years, that
football is governed by its laws. So why is this article entitled “Know
The Rules”? Well, I am not referring to the Laws of the Game, but the
Rules of the local leagues.
As good referees, we should always know the rules of the
competition in which we are officiating. Players and club officials will look to
you for advise, especially in cup games. “Is there extra time today, ref?”
“Are there penalties?” “When will the replay be?” This scenario has
taken on additional relevance this season, as the Golden Goal Rule will be
introduced locally.
To clarify the situation, the situation for local cup
competitions is shown below. However, please ensure you read your competition
handbook before every cup game to ensure you get it right.
Gravesend Football League
The Golden Goal Rule applies in all cup competitions.
North Kent Sunday League
Extra time and penalties in all cup competitions.
County Cup Competitions
Extra
time, followed by a replay. If the replay is also drawn, then there is extra
time and penalties.
Three
competitions, three different sets of rules. Make sure you know which one
applies to your game!!
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A
TIMELY REMINDER
I
know it seems a little early, but Christmas is looming up on the horizon. This
means that the Branch Christmas parties will soon be upon us. Last year, the
Branch received correspondence from the St Christopher Centre, concerning one or
two minor incidents, which reflected on our Branch.
Whilst
we on the Branch Committee all want people to enjoy the evening, we also expect
Branch members and their guests to behave in a manner befitting the Gravesend
Branch. Your co-operation in this matter will be gratefully appreciated.
Here are a few dates for your diary. Please try and support the
Branch social functions. They are put on for your benefit.
10th November 2001 Race
Night
22nd December 2001
Christmas Parties at the St Christopher Centre
Kids party free for children of paid up Branch members.
Adults Party £10 per head.
2nd February 2002
60s/70s Disco at AEI Sports Club.
4th May 2002
KRA Dinner & Dance at Leeds Castle.
11th May 2002
Referee of the Year Dinner & Dance.
Full
details from Social Secretary Mick Smith or any Committee member.
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IT’S
ON THE CARDS
I
found an article in an old copy of The Daily Telegraph, detailing the number of
red and yellow cards issued in the Premier League last season. I hope you find
the statistics interesting.
All
in all, a total of 1208 yellow cards were issued last season. That’s an
average of 60.4 per club. Derby County received the most with 81, whilst Ipswich
were comfortably less than anyone else, with just 33 yellows. Seven teams
received 70 or more cautions. Champions Manchester United received 69.
There
were 64 red cards issued during the season, an average of 3.2 per team. There
must be something in the air in the north east, as the worst offenders were
Middlesborough and Sunderland with 6 red cards each, followed by Newcastle,
along with Liverpool on 5 each. Bradford and Southampton had only 1 player sent
off each.
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Please send any articles etc to:-
Ian Miles, 17 Church Farm Road, Upchurch, Kent. ME9 7AG
Tel: 01634 - 235148
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Please note that any views expressed herein are not those of the Branch unless otherwise stated. All articles to Ian Miles, 17 Church Farm Road, Upchurch, Kent ME9 7AG. Tel: 01634 - 235148.
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