Wexford branch of ISRS to celebrate 50th anniversary
THE WEXFORD Branch of the Irish Soccer Referees’ Society (ISRS) is celebrating its 50th anniversary this year, and to mark the milestone they are holding a dinner dance on Saturday, June 8, in the Talbot Hotel in Wexford.
Back in 1969 in the newly formed Wexford and District League, the system of appointing a referee to each game was to ask for a volunteer from the sideline. This system, naturally, did not meet with unanimous approval and often led to controversial decisions. To remedy this situation, a group of interested individuals came together that year in an effort to establish a referees’ panel.
The group comprised Nick Delaney, Joe Moloney, John Lappin, Tony Busher, Tommy Butler, Stan Kelly, Donal Sadler and Richie Kelly. After some months of studying the laws of the game, the group travelled to Bray to sit their entrance examinations and needless to say passed with flying colours! Shortly after passing their exams, their application to join the Irish Soccer Referees’ Society was accepted by the Executive Council of the Society.
From that date the Wexford Branch has grown in strength and membership now stands at 67, of which 64 are active referees. Week in and week out during the playing season they take on the huge task of officiating all of the games in the Wexford Football League, Wexford and District Schoolboys League, and the Continental Tyres FAI Women’s League.
With the formation of the SSE Airtricity FAI Under-15, -17 and -19 Leagues, this has added to the workload of the members, but has also brought the benefit of working in trios at a higher level of the game and gives great experience to the new and upcoming referees.
In addition to the Under-15, -17 and -19, three of the members - Seán Grant (referee), Michelle O’Neill and Brian Fenlon (assistant referees) - operate in the SSE Airtricity League, which is the highest level that they can perform at in the League of Ireland.
They follow in the footsteps of John Roche and Paddy Nolan who became the first members of the branch to officiate in the League of Ireland during the 1980s.
Seán and Michelle have officiated at international level at home and abroad, and last year Michelle was an assistant referee in the final of the FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup in France. She will be returning to France this year for the Fifa Women’s World Cup, which takes place in June and July.
The Society would be delighted to see current and former members join them at their 50th anniversary dinner dance. Tickets are priced at €35 each.