PATRON:- Pam Wells 01483 833394 PRESIDENT:- Peter Guest :- 01483 771649 [email protected] CHAIRMAN: Roy Butler 07747 800687 VICE-CHAIRMAN:- Colin Barnett 01252 328953 SECRETARY, TREASURER 01483 423808 & MEMBERSHIP SECRETARY:- Bryan Jackson 1 Woodstock Grove, Godalming, Surrey, GU7 2AX TRAINING OFFICER:- Vince Penfold SUPPLIES OFFICERS: - Tony Price 01483 836388 / 07766 973304 R.A.. DELEGATE:- Brian Reader 01483 480651 COMMITTEE:- Ricky Green - Derek Stovold Christopher Cook Meril Readett Corin Readett WARBLER Editor—Mac McBirnie, 16 Robins Dale 01483 835717 / 07770 643229 Knaphill Woking Surrey GU21 2LQ [email protected] INSIDE THIS MONTH’S WARBLER Page 1: Agenda Page 2/3 : From the Chair Page 4 : Mac’s Musings Page 5/6 : September Minutes /Accounts Page 8 : Notice of Annual General Meeting Page 9 : New Year’s Dinner Menu Page 10,11,12 : Attitude Page 13/14 : Surrey RA Delegates Report Page 15 : In memory of Mike Stobbart Page 17 : Membership Page 18 : Murphy’s Meanderings Page 10 : From the Secretary’s Quill Page 20 : Guest Speakers Page 21 : This Month’s Speaker/ Respect Page 22 : Michael Oliver Page 24 : Plum Tree Page 26 : What would you do? Page 27 : Answers what would you do ?(November) The Warbler The Magazine of the Woking Referees‘ Society Meadow Sports Football Club Loop Road Playing Fields, Loop Road, Kingfield, Woking, Surrey, GU22 9BQ 7.30pm for a prompt 8pm start AGENDA CHAIRMAN’S OPENING COMMENTS OUR GUEST SPEAKER John Morton Head of Premier League Match Delegates BREAK DISCUSSION CORNER SOCIETY BUSINESS NEXT MEETING MONDAY 1st March 2010 Guest Speaker Ian Blanchard THE MAGAZINE DEADLINE The deadline for the March Warbler will be Friday 19th February 2010 1 The Warbler The Magazine of the Woking Referees‘ Society Ladies and Gentlemen, Welcome to the start of the New Season(ha ha) because that is what it seems to be after the dreadful snow and ice we have been experiencing during the last few weeks. After clearing up for the last couple of days or so, and then it re- turning with a vengeance today, I thought to myself (here it goes again). Let‘s hope that finally, it has disappeared for this winter at least. Your committee took the sensible view to cancel the New Year Dinner sched- uled for Saturday, 9th January 2010 due to the bad weather. Whilst the main roads were probably passable, it was quite evident that the side roads were still dangerous to get out of and so we have now re-arranged this for SATURDAY, 20TH FEBRU- ARY 2010 AT WORPLESDON PLACE HOTEL opposite the Football Club at 7 p.m. for 7.30 p.m. Those who were not available for the original date and who are now available for this new date should contact Mac as soon as possible for full de- tails. PLEASE DO TRY TO ATTEND THIS FUNCTION AS IT IS A YEARLY EVENT WE LAY ON FOR MEMBERS, FRIENDS AND THEIR RESPECTIVE OTHER HALVES !!! For only £14.95 per person for a three course meal, cannot be all bad. Well regrettably, I once again have to report another sad death in the Referee- ing Fraternity. Michael Stobbart the Hon.Minutes Secretary of Guildford Referees Society and Edi- tor of The Surrey County F.A. Newsletter sadly passed away on Friday 9th January 2010 at the very young age of 56. Michael had not been well for a few months but it is still a great shock to lose someone who was greatly respected by both Guildford and Woking Referees Societies and who did a sterling job on the Newsletter. Quite a few members of Woking knew Michael either as a referee or always someone who welcomed you warmly when we visited our friends at Guildford at their respective meetings. His funeral is this Friday at Guildford Crematorium(22nd January) at 1 p.m. Rest in peace, Michael. It was a great pleasure to have known you. On a more cheerful note, your committee would like to thank the members of the Society who attended the January Meeting on not the best evening to come out due to the weather, but who were enthralled by the presentation given by our Guest Speakers, Peter Kirkup and Mike Mullarkey on The Art of Assisting. Seeing as one came from Exeter and the other from Northampton, they did us proud and it is hoped that as they are on the short list for The World Cup in June, I am convinced they will represent England admirably. Thank you both Gentlemen for gracing us with your presence. On 1st February we are again honoured to have another Good Speaker for you to listen to. John Morton, who is The Head of The Premier League Match Delegates will be visiting our Society in Woking, but at present I am still awaiting for details of his subject, but I am convinced that anything connected with The Premier League must be interesting to listen to, come what may. We do hope that again you will make a note to come to this meeting and listen to another good quality speaker. 2 The Warbler The Magazine of the Woking Referees‘ Society Well, just prior to us cancelling the New Year Dinner, we heard that the Hay- wards Heath 5-a-side Tournament had also been cancelled again due to the bad weather. This has now been scheduled for Sunday, 7th March 2010 at 2 p.m. so if there is anybody interested in supporting The Society at this event either vocally or wishing to play, please contact Ricky Green accordingly. With our membership on 98 it would be nice to reach the magical figure of three figures, so if you know any members who would like to join our Society, please either bring them along or let Bryan know their details. Just to let you know that The Belgium Fraternity (SOLEO) will be visiting Wok- ing Society on the weekend of May 22nd to May 24th and more good news, this time they will staying at The Hilton Hotel in Cobham instead of Croydon as last time. Dave Cooper and I are slowly putting into place details of their weekend and I hope to announce more details in time for the February Meeting. Hope to see you all again on the 1st February and let's hope in the meantime the white stuff stays away and we hopefully will get some games played. With all my best wishes, Roy Another day of shame for the menace that is El-Hadji Diouf By Graham Poll 04th January 2010 Referees are expected not to prejudge players. Yet, when dealing with some- one like El-Hadji Diouf, you can hardly blame officials if they did. Diouf‘s approach and attitude are typified by the tackle he made in the 42th min- ute on Aston Villa's Habib Beye during Blackburn's 3-1 FA Cup defeat at Villa Park. Described as a 'coward‘s tackle' by Sportsmail's Andy Townsend on the ITV highlights show, it was closer to assault than a challenge and I was disap- pointed that his manager, Sam Allardyce, attempted to deflect the attention from Diouf‘s tackle rather than condemn it. Daily Mail 3 The Warbler The Magazine of the Woking Referees‘ Society I‘m afraid once again dear members I will have to send my apologies for the Feb- ruary meeting as I shall be on holiday. ―Use it or lose it‖ is the rule in the estab- lishment for whom I have the pleasure of working. Interestingly I also received in the post this week a request, no a demand , that I attend a hearing, my first as a referee. I attended one a few years ago as an assistant, absolute farce I thought. This time the player is disputing a headbutt. I‘m not sure what he is appealing about, the missing tooth of his opponent would I thought be proof enough, plus he came over at the end of the game and apologised to the guy he hit. As it hap- pens I shall be away in sunnier climes so have informed Surrey FA as such. What a devastating week for news. Cyril West phoned me to say that Mike Stob- bart, who I‘d mentioned only last month in the Warbler had passed away, then I heard from Ricky that Geoff Richards had also succumbed to a long term illness. Anyone who has ever had anything to do with Woking Schools Football or Cricket could not have failed to come across Geoff. I first met him when my son played for the Woking U11s District Football team along with Send Cricket club both of which he managed. Along with this we have Smithy in hospital with a suspected brain tumour, which I have heard today is actually a benign low grade mass, which still sounds pretty grim to me but in his words ―Keep calm and carry on‖. We all wish you the best Eamonn. Last month I mentioned that I‘d received a letter from Mike Stobbart, unfortu- nately I hadn‘t gotten round to replying before I heard the news. I thought how- ever I would include his letter in this edition as it seems to me to be a fitting trib- ute to someone I would have liked to have known better. Not much happening on the footy front. I think mid December was my last game, but fingers crossed for this weekend. According to the home team manager this is the 7th time they‘ve tried to play this particular cup game.