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 he first item on my agenda this month is to offer my congratulations, and I fell sure, all your congratulations also, to Peter Watson on his being nominated for the Long and Meritorious Service Award. Council approved Peter's award at their meeting on Saturday 19th February.
To get this award it is not simply a matter of being a member of the RA for twenty years but it reflects 20 years of active service to our society and the RA. In Peter's case this represents twenty plus years serving, at different times as Secretary, Chairman, and Training Officer for this society. Bravo! Well done this is indeed a tremendous achievement.
The 3T system has been re-introduced and took effect from the date of the last exam on 24/2/00. Those passing the exam are now classed as 3T and are given 6 pre-printed postcards to be returned to David Havenhand (S.C.Registration Officer) after each of the first six matches the candidate officiates at. These matches must be 11 a side games in a sanctioned league or competition.
This process must be completed within 1 year of qualification. Those failing to do so, without good cause, will not be re-registered at the start of the next season.
The RA Management Consultancy Team has now started work on the future of the RA and, as part of the work we will be using some time at the next meeting to complete a questionnaire. We will also be 'brain storming' a Vision Statement for the RA. The future of our association is an important issue and concerns us all BUT it should concern our younger members to a much greater extent. The younger referees are our future, so I am pleading with the younger guys and girls to make every effort to get to Wednesday's meeting and take an active part - your opinions are urgently sort.
The new Chief Executive of the FA, Adam Crozier, has written to the secretaries of Leagues and Competitions, the County F.A.s, the PFA, LMA and the Referees Association regarding the recent standards on the field of play at the highest levels. The FA is particularly concerned over recent incidents in the FA Premier League matches where a number of players gather around a match official and act in an intimidating way. He states that this behavior cannot be tolerated.
It is the responsibility of match officials, particularly the referee, to ensure the proper conduct of a match. Decisions of the match officials must be respected. Match officials need the support of all involved in the game and the Football Association expects clubs to take their responsibility seriously.
At a special meeting of the FA Council held at Wembley on 14th December 1999 it was agreed that the future face of football administration would be changed. The FA will now be run by a board of directors, 6 from the professional game and 6 from grassroots football. These professionals will run the professional side of the game and a National Control Board, whose members will be drawn from the national game, will administer the grassroots.
Clearly there will be dramatic changes in the near future involving football administration in the English FA and these changes will have an effect on the refereeing side of the game. None of the countries 32.000 referees were informed of these discussions but our association will be making every effort to keep us informed as developments occur.
John Baker will shortly be replacing Ken Ridden when he retires as head of refereeing at the FA. John has been a staff referee instructor of the highest standing and has great knowledge of refereeing matters. We wish him well.
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