Sunderland Welcome Head of Referee Development in April

Neale Barry will focus on the retention and development of referees between County level and the professional game. He will not continue in his career as a Premier League referee.

Promoted to The FA Premier League referees list in 1997, he has officiated 155 Premiership matches.

In total, Neale has taken charge of over 400 matches as a National List referee over the course of 12 seasons. He was also appointed as a match official at 26 matches overseas, and brings to the post 15 years’ experience in referee training and education.

Tags: Guest Speaker, Neale Barry

International Rugby ref speaks in March

Northumberland Society ref Dave Pearson has an old job to thank for his decision to take up the whistle. Time spent abroad whilst working for Proctor and Gamble as a Chemical Engineer left Pearson unable to train regularly with his club Seghill. So when a youth team needed someone to take charge, he stepped forward and says he never looked back.

That was back in 1992 and since then he has joined the RFU National Panel (1997) and refereed his first full Premiership match when he took control of NEC Harlequins v London Irish in 2000, having previously stepped in for Brian Campsall during Rotherham’s match against Sale.

Since going full time in 2002 he has gone on to referee seven internationals, the first being in April 2005 between Argentina and Japan. One of his career highlights came from the shortened game, at the 2003 Hong Kong Sevens. His Six Nations debut followed, in February 2006 and later that year he went on to take charge of his first ever Premiership Final.

An accomplished golfer, he plays off a handicap of seven and also enjoys cooking for wife Paulene.

Tags: Guest Speaker, Dave Pearson

Sunderland society played hosts for the FA organised respect presentation in January.

Every qualified referee has to attend one of the arranged presentations within the coming months.

Alan Wilkie a former premier league referee and now regional referee development officer took the presentaion in front of a group of 60-70 referees from the Sunderland area.

Alan spoke in length of how the referee respect programme has been working since its introduction at the start of season 2008/09 and outlined the FA’s intentions on how to further improve the problems involving a lack of respect towards the referee from players , managers & supporters.

There was a good points & questions asked from the floor and the debate certainly started to heat up when one of our members suggested that the respect programme should start at the very top of the football tree the Premier league & not grass roots football as it currently is , our premier league stars who earn millions of pounds a year should be setting the example to the rest of football , a point that the majority of the audience agreed with entirely.

The meeting has started with a presentation to our society for our 100 year centenary.

Alan Wilkie presented a plaque on behalf of the FA & Roly Croysdale presented a block and gavel on behalf of the Referees Association.

Tags: Respect, FA Referee

Sunderland Referees welcome Ian Blanchard as guest speaker to Februarys meeting

On the 1st September 2005, I became the Head of National Referee Development at the FA. I now have responsibility for the recruitment, retention and development of all referees involved in the National game through to Supply League level. I also manage the seven Regional Referees Managers.”

Mr. Blanchard’s Portfolio:
• 1988: First refereeing experience in the East Riding of Yorkshire.
• 1989: Promoted to Class 1 or Level 5.
• 1989: Promoted to Northern Premier League Assistant referees List.
• 1990: Promoted to Referee on Northern Premier League.
• 1991: Promoted onto the National List of assistant referees.
• 1992: Promoted onto the Premier League as an Assistant referee.
• 1994: Qualified as a FA Licensed referee Instructor.
• 1999: Joined FA Staff as a Group Instructor on the National Course.
• 2000: Joined FA Staff on the International Referee Instructor Course.
• 2001: Employed as a FA Regional Manager.

Mr. Blanchard made 5 visits to Wembley to officiate in the following memorable games:
• 1995: FA Vase Final Oxford City v Ardsley Utd.
• 1996: FL Div 1 Play Off Final – Crystal Palace v Leicester City.
• 1998: Div 2 Play Off Final – Man City v Gillingham.
• 1999: FA Trophy Final – Southport v Cheltenham.
• 2000 FL Div 1 Play Off Final – Barnsley v Ipswich Town.

Tags: Guest Speaker, Ian Blanchard