AUL REFEREES 1999

REFEREES AND MANAGERS MEET:




There were some honest straight talking exchanges at the specially arranged between the AUL U18 and U17 managers and the Referees Inspectors and Society members which took place at the Imperial Hotel last week; the use of foul language by players, the attitude of managers and selectors, allegations of victimisation of reporting clubs, and inconsistency on the referees' part, turned out to be the main topics.



Willie Long, chairman of the local branch of the Irish Soccer Referees Society, was delighted with the chance to talk to the managers: "We do try to get consistency. There is constant coaching on the laws of the games at our fourteen meetings every season; we use videos on the laws and also on first aid; self-correct papers are regularly handed out with questions and multi-choice answers".



"There is a major commitment on the referee's part. Our society helps them prepare match reports, instructs them in how to address players, and also organises testing training sessions at the Mardyke. Those who attend these sessions are encouraged, they get the better games."



Ballincollig manager Denis Campion and Everton manager Noel O'Sullivan both pointed to inconsistency as a major problem. O'Sullivan mentioned an example last season where one of his youth players was drafted in for an intermediate cup game where the use of foul language was not punished while the same offence was being severely punished at youth level even to the point where it was being given more attention than the basic laws.



Bad language was also being used by the odd referee from time to time and Rockmount manager James Corcoran was a recent victim: "Had it been one of my players, I would have taken him off." Corcoran's policy may well be one to adopt at schoolboy level according to Senior Referees inspector Pat Kelly: "Problems are starting at a younger age and good habits at schoolboy level could be a big help later on".



Frank Casey had these words of advice: "Make sure everything is right before the game. Don't draw the ref on you. Make sure shinguards are in place and that socks are tied and so on. Let us work together".



Some clubs were frustrated because they felt there was little they could do about their grievances with a referee. The answer came loud and clear from both the referees and the league management and it was report, report, report.



"But if we report, we will be victimised", was the reply. "Not so", assured Willie Long, "No club is victimised. The match will be reffed as it is on the day, not with reference to the club's previous history. If we come across anything like that, if a referee intentionally robs a team, that referee will be shifted. I am genuine when I say no club will be victimised".



His comments were echoed by branch secretary Christy Byrne who encouraged clubs to report instances of misconduct on a referee's part to the league. "There may even be some benefit in reporting mis-applications of the laws by a referee, you could well be doing him a favour in the long run." If the reports don't come, the league won't know about it, the society won't know about it, and the mistakes, deliberate or otherwise, will continue unabated. So report and break the circle.



At the end of the lively discussion, most present could go along with one of Pat Kelly's closing comments: "We all have a function in football - co-operation is the way to go".

REFEREES 1994

The current committee of the Cork Branch of the Irish Soccer Referees


Society (ISRS) has an amazing one hundred and forty two years service

between the seven of them.



Vice chairman Eddie Mullins leads the experience stakes; he has been a

referee for 33 years. The others are Pat Kelly (24 years); Denis

Morley (22); Sean Manley (20); Jim McGrath (18); Willie Long (15);

and Christy Byrne (10).



At the recent annual general meeting, Sean Manley was elected chairman

in place of the retiring Derry Barrett. It is Sean's fifth time in

the chair. Mullins was returned a vice-chairman and Willie Long, a

member of the League of Ireland panel, as secretary.



Jim McGrath is in his 12th year as treasurer and Christy Byrne, a

second season FIFA linesman, as assistant secretary. Pat Kelly, a

League of Ireland ref for 14 years and a FIFA ref for five, was re-

elected treasurer while Denis Morley was returned to the committee.



The Cork branch of the ISRS was formed in 1960 and Sam Spillane, one

of the founder members, is still refereeing today. There are 85

members who serve in the League of Ireland, Cork Schoolboys League,

AUL, MSL, and Shipping League. In addition, during the summer months,

Inter-House, Inter-Pub, and Ladies League, are catered for.



A senior ref can be active for 12 months of the year if he so wishes

but it is not easy and, not surprisingly, many prefer to take a break

in summer. Even the regular season schedule can be demanding as the

referee must be prepared to give up every weekend. He has to go out

in all weather conditions and be a peacemaker, timekeeper,

scorekeeper, and often a first aid man, all in one.



The rewards are there, of course, for the successful official: local

cup final appointments, League of Ireland appointments, European club

games, and World Cup ties. But even the regular junior match official

must be quite dedicated. In addition to his weekend dates, he must be

prepared to attend forthnightly Society meetings during the season and

do at least one written and one physical test each year.



Not an easy road. But an enjoyable one. The magnificent seven above

would not have clocked up such mileage if it was all work and no play!



end of story

REFEREES AUGUST 1995

Referee Jack Murphy, recently retired:




Refereed:

FAI Youth Cup final; Munster Youth Cup final; FAI Under 17 Cup

quarter-final; Corinthians Cup final; AOH Cup final; St

Michael's Cup final; Cork area FAI Junior Cup final;

President's Cup final; Saxone Cup final; Harding Cup final;



Lined at:

FAI Youth Inter-league final; AOH Cup final; Cork area FAI

Junior Cup final; Munster Junior Cup semi-final; Murphy Youth

Cup final;



Officiated in all grades of football from Under 11 Schoolboys to

the Premier division of the MSL and also did FAI Intermediate Cup

and Munster Senior Cup matches.





End of Story

REFEREE BILLY FALVEY 1993

Billy Falvey, the AUL Referee of the Year 1992/93, started refereeing by


accident. In 1968, he went to a schoolboys game as spectator. No ref turned up and Billy was encouraged to take charge. He did and that led to more requests from Schoolboys League fixtures secretary Pat Long.



That makes its 25 years of refereeing for Billy. One of his best seasons was in 1984 when he took charge of the AOH final and was then promoted to the League of Ireland panel where he spent three years.



Schoolboy refereeing was a bit hap hazard at the time that Falvey started out and he helped in getting it on a proper footing. He was one of the founders of the Cork Amateur Referees Society, which was set up in conjunction with the Schoolboys League. In 1975, the work of the group was recognised when two members including Falvey, lined for an Ireland v France Schoolboys international at Flower Lodge.



Falvey, who had continued to play intermediate with Glasheen (he had also

played youths with the club), was now catching the attention of Owen McCarthy. Owen knew a good refereeing prospect when he saw one and it was he who encouraged Billy to join the professional branch. An injury which stopped his playing career helped Falvey make up his mind.



Once into the society, Billy played a full role in the affairs of the Cork section of the ISRS and had the honour to be chairman in 1985 when the branch celebrated its 25th anniversary. Falvey is a man who keeps himself in tip top shape and don't be surprised if you see him involved in the 50th anniversary celebrations.