The Benefits of Referees' Society Membership

We will sometimes on the refereeing circuit come across match officials not in membership of any Referees' Society or the RAE, and when asked why not, the reply will often be "I can't get to meetings." Monthly meetings (see article below) are, of course, at the very centre of Society life and there is much benefit much in attending, listening and questioning the great speakers, learning and developing from the training and enjoying the friendship & camaraderie which is available. But there are also many other advantages of membership, so if you are ever told by a colleague that he "can't get to meetings" please just remind him of some of these:
 
Visible Benefits other than Society Meetings
1. Argus - packed with articles, news and information on refereeing in the AFA and London FA competitions.
2. AFA Mentoring.
3. RA kit supplies at meetings and on order with 10% reductions on quoted prices.
4. Invitations to post match social gatherings on Saturday evenings.
5. Society Website - also packed with up-to-date information on the Society
6. 100 club, Annual Dinner, Annual Awards & other social functions
7. Close season fitness training sessions
8. RA Conference
9. RA Website

Invisible Benefits - behind the scenes and available if needed
1. Representation on the AFA Council and the AFA Referees' Committee
2. Representation to the London FA and London FA Referees' Committee
3. Advice, support and representation if assaulted, charged or suspended.
4. RAE Personal insurance when officiating or attending refereeing business
5. RAE Representation on the FA Council
6. RAE Representation on the FA Referees' Committee
7. RAE representation to the FA Refereeing Department
8. RAE Service awards
9. RA Benevolent Fund

Society Meetings

Formal business is kept to a tolerable minimum to allow as much opportunity for members to catch up with each other and spend time in sociable companionship as possible.

Guest speakers drawn from all parts of the game are a major feature of Society meetings and the Society is proud of its record of attracting popular and interesting guests to come along to meetings and pass on the benefits of their experience to our members. See Dates for your Diary for details of upcoming bookings. Synopses of past speakers' talks can be found on the From the Archives page.

Time is provided to allow members the opportunity to put questions arising from match incidents together with topics of general interest to our training officer John Cooke (fully armed - and dangerous - with the latest video and computer presentation kit). This is an always lively, occasionally contentious part of the evening which never fails to encourage anything less than full and enthusiastic participation from the floor!

 

REFEREEING ACADEMY

 

As a regular feature of the society's Refereeing Academy, John Cooke, the society's training officer and FA licensed instructor, leads a regular training spot which includes reviewing members' match incidents, video analysis and discussion (usually animated) of whatever's in the news, refereeing wise. Members with video recorded incidents are always welcome to bring them to meetings and they will be examined, time permitting. If possible, please telephone John in advance, if you want to offer a clip for review.

Meetings take place in central London at the

Civil Service Recreation Centre
1 Chadwick Street
London SW1P 2EP

Telephone 020 7976 7646

The centre is well served by public transport with a wide selection of bus routes passing nearby and St James Park, Victoria and Westminster stations all within comfortable walking distance. For travel assistance see the links on the Useful Links page.

There is an excellent bar and cafeteria at the Centre and hot meals are available up until 7.00pm.

Referees Talkback

Ever wanted to talk through an incident with another referee after a game but found no other colleagues available? A number of highly-experienced referees within the Society invariably return to their club houses on Saturday evenings and are always pleased to share a pint or two with colleagues and friends of the game.  If you're in their area, just call in after about 6.00 pm  This scheme provides a network of AFA club locations around London where referees can expect a warm reception and a friendly chat after receiving club hospitality. 

The following clubs are currently available:

North	North	North East	South
Latymer Old Boys	Old Finchleians	Old Parkonians	Old Salesians FC
Botany Bay Cricket Club	Woodside Park	Oakfield Playing Fields	Salesian College Pl. Fields
East Lodge Lane	Finchley	Forest Road	Old School Lane
Enfield	London N12	Fairlop, Essex	Ewell West
Middlesex	Tel: 020 8445 7406		Surrey
Tel: 020 8363 4482			Tel: 020 8893 9820
	Referees:	Referees:
Referees:	Robert Hanison	Bill Taylor, Peter Robbins	Referees:
Trevor Syms, Steve Bodell	Society friend: Danny McConell	John Dixon	Patrick Morrissey, Bart O'Toole,
Tony Hemmings, Mike Evans			Peter Kosciolek, Brian Malins
John Cooke, John Faithfull,			Peter Georgiou, Trevor Weaver,
Derrick Coe, John Crooke, Ian Kerr			Stephen O'Sullivan, Chris Phillips, Phil Cook

Can you add your name and your club to the list?  If so call Gordon Kirby: 020 8995 7529.