Category Archives: RA News
RA-FA Youth Council Applications 2014-15
Please see the information below from the RA-FA Youth Council. It’d be great to support one (or more!) of our referees in standing for a place on the Council, so if you need any help, please contact the Membership Secretary.
RA-FA Youth Council Regional Representative Application Information 2014-2015
Dear Referee,
The RA-FA Youth Council is now seeking to recruit its members for the 2014-15 season. It is a fantastic opportunity for you to be involved in the future of refereeing in the country. With the growing number of County FA Youth Councils the RA-FA Youth Council are striving to provide support and a clear link into the RA-FA Youth Council, and therefore are looking for Regional Representatives to represent the counties in their regions.
About the RA-FA Youth Council
The RA-FA Youth Council was formed in the Summer of 2012. It is a group of 12 young people who represent each region of the country. The Youth Council works to support Youth Councils within County FAs with referee development. The RA-FA Youth Council acts the voice of young people in referee development, and strives to work with The FA and RA in ensuring the future of refereeing engages with the next generation of match officials.
Regional Representatives
Over half of England’s County FAs now have a County FA Youth Council, which shows the strong voice young people have within grassroots football. With the number of Youth Councils and volume of work they’re undertaking growing it is important that the RA-FA Youth Council can fully support those Youth Councils who are developing and supporting referees in their counties.
In order to facilitate this support, the RA-FA Youth Council will be appointing Regional Representatives, one per region. Regional Representatives will provide the link between County FA Youth Councils and the RA-FA Youth Council, The FA and The RA. The role of these representatives include; maintaining and growing the number of County FA Youth Councils, promoting the support the RA-FA Youth Council can provide and sharing best practice.
A full role description is attached.
How to Apply
In order to apply for one of the RA-FA Youth Council Regional Representative roles please complete the attached application form and submit by email to RA-FAYouthCouncil@TheFA.com no later than Friday 29th August at 5pm.
Please provide two contacts, one from your County FA and one from your Local RA, should we wish to contact them for a reference of support.
In order to apply, you must meet the following criteria:
• Aged 16-25 on 1st July 2014
• Registered FA referee for the 2014-2015 season
• Current RA full member for the 2014-2015 season
You will then be contacted if we wish to undertake a telephone interview with you. This is an informal conversation about your application and suitability for the role. These telephone interviews will take place between Monday 15th September and Thursday 18th September.
More Information
More information, including our meeting dates, are found within the attached application pack.
Should you have any further questions please contact us at [email protected]. We look forward to receiving your application.
Best wishes
RA-FA Youth Council
Forms to Download
Regional Representative Job Description
Report from the RA Conference 2014
AGM:
The new RA Constitution was approved by a majority of almost 99%, with delegates in attendance agreeing almost unanimously that it was crucial for it to be accepted “as proposed” this year and then to consider any fine-tunings in 2015 onwards. The only other alternative was to continue with the old out-dated Constitution, which was not a viable or sensible option. My Board colleague Len Randall is now in the process of preparinga separate communication to all LRAs which will explain in detail the implications for them of this new 2014 Constitution. The post-AGM Open Forum allowed delegates and members to raise questions to the Board on any topics they liked, which produced some lively and informative exchanges during this well-received and highly enlightening session.
Awards:
Our congratulations and gratitude go to 15 of our colleagues whose lengthy service to the RA and its members has been recognised this year. Long may their excellent work on behalf of the RA continue.
RA Life Membership
Richard Blackman (Dover)
Jock Campbell (Maidstone)
John Harvey (West Somerset)
Harry Oliver (Stockton)
Alan Owen (Cannock Chase)
John Oxley (Chiltern District)
Michael Todd (Stroud)
Tony Truman (Cirencester)
RA Long & Meritorious Service Award
Kevin Bingham (Chesterfield)
Rick Bradfield (Crewe & District)
Norman Harris (Driffield & Bridlington)
Michael Massingham (Grantham)
Colin Morris (Gravesend)
John Newson (Gravesend)
Jeffrey Wheatley (Chesterfield)
Conference:
This year’s event was, by general consent, yet again the best the RA has ever staged, attracting a large number of huge compliments from those attending. The mixture of young referees through to the older heads, allied to the plethora of well-known names from the current list of top English refereeing personnel both on and off the field, ensured a really tremendous all-round “family” feel to the whole weekend. We now need to maintain that upward momentum for the 2015 Conference being held at the Radisson Heathrow Hotel over the first weekend of July next year.
Dinner:
Almost 200 people attended the social highlight of our Conference weekend, namely the Saturday evening Dinner. Those present enjoyed an excellent meal, plus a lively programme which saw completion of the presentation of RA Awards to our 7 LMSA recipients and 8 new RA Life Members for this year. In addition, presentations were made to numerous officials who had been appointed in 2015 to the various FA Finals and other top domestic football matches.
[York RA members feedback – pleasant meal but no entertainment on the night and the evening ended early – not what we recall a “lively programme” but disappointing]
Ian Campbell – RA Board Vice-Chairman
Chair of Internal Communications Committee
Post note:
The list of Quest awards was issued at the Conference and there were no Gold, 2 silver (including Barkston Ash RA), and several Bronze (including York RA).
RA Shop Sporting Touch Flyer
A flyer for the RA Shop and a special deal ending at the end of July can be found at: A5 Flyer – nike
Transpennine Cycle Ride
On Saturday 12th July we presented St Leonard’s Hospice with a cheque for £2290.52, raised from Trans Pennine Cycle Ride in May.
Thank you to all those who sponsored us, those that helped with transport ( Ann, Alan & Glynn ) & those persuaded to take part.
RA Newsletter – March 2014
The RA March 2014 Newsletter can be found here.
The last paragraph highlights some good news – from the start of next membership year 1st April the RA have increased its insurance cover for you for now not only is your referee kit covered by insurance if stolen, your clothing and personal effects have been added to the value of £200 this is free of charge, but it must have been stolen from a locked dressing room or locked car, the theft must be reported to the police together with a crime number must be obtained.