Referees and Assistant Referees

PORT TALBOT REFEREES' SOCIETY PRESS RELEASE

5 May 2008

Port Talbot Referees' Society life member John Morgan was recently presented with a Football Association of Wales Long Service Award. 

He was recognised for his services to refereeing over more than 30 years and in total he has been involved in football for almost 50 years, including as a referee and chairman of the Port Talbot & District League. He is now president of the league and is the current chairman of the South Wales Football Association. 

John Morgan was presented with his Long Service Award at a Port Talbot Referees Society meeting by Football Association of Wales councillor John Phillips. Also present was Swansea City manager Roberto Martinez, who was the society's guest speaker on the night. 

Port Talbot Referees Society chairman Phil Southall said: "John Morgan - or JP Morgan as most people will know him - has been a loyal servant to refereeing for more than three decades."

"He remains an active member of society and is always present at our meetings to pass on his experience to the younger referees." 

Photograph shows FAW councillor John Phillips (left) and Swansea City manager Roberto Martinez (right) presenting a FAW Long Service Award to John Morgan (centre).

Only a few days after taking Swansea City into the Football League Championship for the first time in 24 years, Roberto Martinez was the guest speaker at Port Talbot Referees Society. 

Martinez spoke of how he guided the Swans back to the second tier of English football and his plans for next season. He also spoke about refereeing in general and the major differences between refereeing in the UK compared to his homeland in Spain. 

Port Talbot Referees Society chairman Phil Southall said: "Roberto Martinez was an excellent guest speaker and his insight into the game was enjoyed by everyone who attended. We would like to thank him for giving up his time at what was an extremely busy and important stage of the season for Swansea."

Pictured are members of Port Talbot Referees Society with guest speaker Roberto Martinez.

On Sunday 4 May 2008 four members of the Port Talbot Referees' Society, namely Mark Thomas, Jeff Bailey, Ian Bird and Rhys Burgess, officiated at the Clubs for Young People (formerly Boys' and Girls' Clubs) international fixtures between Wales and Scotland at the ground of Afan Lido FC.  The fixtures were at under-14, under-16 and under-18 age groups.

Pictured above (from left to right) are the Mayor of Neath and Port Talbot, Councillor Anthony Taylor, Mark Thomas, Jeff Bailey, Ian Bird and Rhys Burgess.

REFEREES NEEDED

The above is a common phrase in football circles, as with the end of every season comes the end for many players, managers, backroom staff.  Well the same is true of the match officials. By the end of this season Port Talbot Referee's’ Society will be losing six referees, this is 20% of the active referees within our area.

So if you're still fit, and want to be involved in the game, you might be a junior team manager, parent, supporter, or even an ex-player, without referees the game will suffer, at all levels.  We are asking for names to put forward to the South Wales FA to run a course in the summer, so if you want to put something back into the game please contact one of the following e-mail addresses for further information, leaving your name and contact details: -

Ryan Thomas:  r.thomas6@ntlworld.com or Paul Fisher: PBF.ref@ntlworld.com.

5 May 2008

PORT TALBOT REFEREES' SOCIETY PRESS RELEASE

Former Premier League referee Steve Dunn was the guest speaker of Port Talbot Referees Society on Thursday 31st January 2008.

Dunn became the first ever English official to achieve the double of the FIFA referees and assistants list and took charge of the first ever FA Cup Final to be staged at the Millennium Stadium - between Liverpool and Arsenal.

He was invited as the guest speaker to the Port Talbot Referees Society's January meeting, held at the Grove Park. Invited guests were also in attendance from the Port Talbot & District League, as well as the Bridgend, Aberdare and Swansea referees' societies and the Referees Association of Wales chairman Pedr McMullen.

Phil Southall (left) presenting guest speaker Steve Dunn (right) with a memento of his visit to South Wales.

Steve Dunn started refereeing local matches in 1978.

He progressed through the Gloucestershire County League, the Western League and the Football Conference to become a linesman in the Football League in 1986.

His appointment to the Football League list of referees came in 1992, and in the same year he became one of the first of the new FIFA assistant referees.

Dunn's first ever Premiership match was on 23 August 1995, when Tottenham lost 1-0 at home to Aston Villa, the only goal coming from Ugo Ehiogu.

He reached the FIFA list of referees in 1997. Thus he became the first English official to achieve the "double" of the FIFA referees and FIFA assistants lists, a feat later matched by Steve Bennett, Graham Barber and Matt Messias. He completed six years at this level, stepping down at the age of 45 in 2002, although he continued refereeing as an over-age official in the 'domestic' competitions until 2005.

In 2000, he was the man in the middle at the FA Trophy Final between Kingstonian FC and Kettering Town.

One of his career highlights was the 2001 FA Cup Final between Arsenal and Liverpool, when the 'Gunners' lost 2-1, their goal supplied by Freddie Ljungberg, but with two late goals coming from Michael Owen to reverse the scoreline at 90 minutes.

He would go on to referee Football League Cup semi-finals in 2002 and 2004.

Dunn's final Premier League game was Fulham's emphatic 6-0 win at home to relegated Norwich City on 15 May 2005.

He refereed his last professional match on 18 May 2005, when he took charge of West Ham's 2-0 win against Ipswich Town in the Championship play-off semi-final second leg at Portman Road, both goals coming from Bobby Zamora. He was appointed to referee for the following season (2005-06) but made no appearances due to injury.

Paul Fisher

3 February 2008

PRESENTATION TO LEN HOWELLS

The Port Talbot & District Football League has paid tribute to its past president, who has served football in the town for 60 years.

Len Howells stood down as the league president last year due to ill health.

He has now been recognised for decades of loyal service to local football. Len is a former secretary of the Port Talbot & District League and was also a Welsh League and Football League referee and a founder member of the Port Talbot Referees Society, of which he is still the president.

Len was presented with a token of appreciation from the league, which also made a donation to the cardiac unit of Morriston Hospital.

His successor as league president, John Morgan, chairman of the South Wales Football Association, said: "Len Howells is the grandfather of football in Port Talbot. He has served football in the town for 60 years and has helped and encouraged so many people involved in football."

Pictured above is Len Howells (left) receiving his award from South Wales FA chairman John Morgan (right).

Paul Fisher

3 February 2008

BOOK REVIEW - BETWEEN THE LINES BY GERRARD LEWIS

PLEASE CLICK HERE FOR BOOK REVIEW

REFEREES TIES AND UNIFORM/KIT BADGES

Ties:

The League is looking to introduce, for the first time, an official League tie for Referees and Assistant Referees.

The tie will include the League's crest and the word "Referee".

The price of the tie will be approximately £8.00. 

If you are interested in purchasing such a tie please contact Idwal Williams or John Harris as soon as possible.

Badges:

The League has a number of Referees' uniform/kit badges available for Welsh League Referees and Assistant Referees.

If you wish to purchase a badge or badges they are priced at £4.00 each and are obtainable by writing to Ken Tucker enclosing a cheque for the due amount payable to "The Welsh Football League".

12 November 2007