Issue 31 - Newsletter – January 2009
www.lowerbeedinglions.co.uk

SUSSEX COUNTY FA REFEREE RECRUITMENT DRIVE
The Sussex County FA has launched a new campaign
 at encouraging local people interested in football to sign-up to become a fully qualified referee. The aim is to provide a qualified referee for every match by 2012, yet currently one third of grassroots matches across the county are played without a proper match official.

The initiative is part of The Football Association’s Get into Refereeing campaign, which aims to recruit 8,000 new active referees by 2012. At present numbers are at an all-time low, with just 22,000 active referees in England. The future of grassroots leagues looks bleak unless more adults and youngsters take up the whistle.

Clive Penton, Sussex Based Football League Referee commented: “Being a referee is one of the most rewarding jobs in football. It is a terrific challenge, and gives people a chance when they finish playing to still be on the pitch every weekend. It is a fantastic way to keep fit, learn new skills and earn some money doing something you love, and we really hope the people of Sussex will get behind the campaign.”

The Football Association is committed to recruiting sufficient referees to cover all affiliated football and has invested £1 million this season into Referee Development Officers across the country. The FA is also working to ensure that football is played in a positive environment via the Respect Programme. Already 340 grassroots leagues, covering over 25,000 teams, have signed up to improve their behaviour – to referees, to team-mates, to opponents and to coaches.

The FA’s Head of Refereeing Ian Blanchard, added: “Referees perform a vital role in football, and with the growing popularity of the game, particularly for women and children, the demand for match officials is increasing. It is therefore incredibly distressing to see so many matches being played without a referee but through the Get into Refereeing campaign we aim to bring as many casual fans and former players back into the game as possible. “

To try to address this The Sussex County FA is running three Basic Referee Courses.

One in Hassocks, Mid-Sussex starting on 2nd February, one in Crawley starting 4th March and one in Crowborough starting on 9th March, of which full details can be found on the attached Application Form.

 For more information please contact:
 Paul Saunders
Paul Saunders | Referee Development Officer
Mobile 07768 363 063
Sussex County Football Association Ltd.
Culver Road | Lancing | West Sussex | BN15 9AX
T +44(0)1903 753547 | F +44(0)1903 761608
Com Reg. No. 3870268 | Incorporated in England.
Paul.Saunders@SussexFA.com | www.SussexFA.com