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Home23rd September 1996 Minutes
1. The acting Chairman Steve Catterall welcomed everyone.
2. Apologies were received from George Parry.
3. Minutes of the August meeting were read and deemed a true record. Proposed by F.Jennings seconded by R.Gore.
4. There were no matters arising.
5. Correspondence
Out:
Letter to RA Head Office for winning list of RA Draw Numbers.
Letter to RA NW Div Exec Member (W.Old) containing agenda and minutes of last meeting.
In:
Letter from Dave Horlick expressing regret that he could not make this meeting.
Agenda & Mins from RA L'pool County Area for May 28th 1996.
Letter from Wally Old RA Exec Mem NW Div containing Agendas and minutes for: RA Council Meeting (Coventry 7th Sep 1996)
NW Div EC Members Report for September
NW Div Meeting on 8th Sept 1996.
Paper compiled by Alan Robinson on Recruitment and Retention on Referees.
Order form for Minimising the Risk Of Being Assaulted booklet. FOC for members.
Cutting from The People (Wally Old) regarding points on ideas to help/hinder referees.
6. The Supplies Officer said that stocks were low and if any member required anything he would order for the October meeting.
7. There were no good news stories. Phil Howard and Charlie Skinley who are now on the North West Counties panel told of their outings, saying they had enjoyable experiences and there appears to be no difference in the pace of the game at this level than that at the level they have moved up from.
8. In our right or wrong questions :- C.Skinley asked when he was grabbed by the arm by a player was he right to show restraint and caution the player for dissent.(The grab was not violent). The general opinion was he was right to use common sense. The membership welcomed an increase in fines for players who are cautioned or sent off.
9. P.Howard raised an issue which had occurred in the recent Liverpool versus Chelsea game. He put the question as to why the Liverpool defender (Matteo) was not sent off for a professional foul as the attacker was awarded a penalty. There was mixed reaction but the general opinion was that he should have been sent off. It followed that the members were in total agreement that if the resulting penalty had been missed, it should have been retaken because the keeper had moved before the ball was struck. Following on from this S.Catterall raised the issue of encroachment. It appears that this part of the law is being ignored, certainly at the higher levels in the game. The members appeared to agree that if the assistant referee is to be on the goal line for penalties he should be used by the referee for judging encroachment by the 'keeper. We were privileged to have a visit from Wally Old (NW Div Exec Member). We discussed an article brought to our attention by Wally which was published in the People. Wally pointed out that the FA had spoken to their Referees'. Committee about relieving referees of some responsibilities i.e. timekeeping but not to the R.A. itself. It had only consulted on using video for a ball crossing the goal line scenario. Following on from this a heated discussion ensued as to whether referees should be accountable for their actions, and not be allowed to hide in their dressing rooms. The criticism was mainly aimed at Premier League Referees. The question was raised if the standard in the Nationwide League was better than that of the Premier League. The members agreed that the P.L. referees were under much more pressure than their counterparts in the Nationwide. Perhaps more rotation may be an answer. The membership was split on the opinion that criticism was a good thing. If the referees concerned did a poor job they should be criticised seemed to be the general opinion. Wally suggested that we should support all referees. The discussion went on expanding on these points. The meeting was adjourned for a ten minute break. On reconvening the meeting John Towndrow did a raffle. The meeting was rounded up by a discussion on signals given by referees. Again the point was raised that at different levels of the game differing signals ensue. We need to get standards laid down and followed. The main sticking point dismissal. Should the referee point to the dressing room ? Again the membership was split. Some saying that this was required to let spectators know what was happening. A healthy debate concluded that "referee bashing" should not be done by referees.
10. There was no other business.
11. Next Meeting 28th October 1996. Guest Speaker Dave Horlick