Football Wilmot reflects on ‘testing’ first year as referees’ secretary

We entered our season with 50 qualified referees to call on and 40 you could class as being regularly available

DEVOTED football administrator Chris Wilmot applauded the big and enthusiastic band of referees overseeing a local grassroots game brought to a standstill once more by the coronavirus crisis.

The 56-year-old took up the reins as referees’ secretary to both Bristol Premier Combination and Bristol & District leagues last February following the decision by predecessor Mike Smardon to step down after 12 seasons in the role.

Wilmot, who also continues to serve Iron Acton FC as club secretary, admits his first year or so directing refereeing operations has been “testing,” although he was quick to praise the efforts of officials overseeing a campaign which began so “promisingly” in September before suffering the same fate as other local leagues the length and breadth of the land.

“It has all been a bit stop-start and it’s hard to see at this time where this is all heading,” he said.

“I’d just taken on the referees’ secretary position with the Combination and District leagues in February, only for the season to get curtailed in March with my feet barely under the desk!”

“Over the summer we put the usual leagues handbooks together and confirmed which referees would be officiating and throughout the early stages of the season in September and October we did very well, achieving 96 per cent coverage of games with qualified refs in the District League and 100 per cent in the Premier Combination.

“That meant we only had to ask clubs to provide their own referees in one or two cases, a pleasing situation helped by Downs League officials who hadn’t been able to get going with their fixtures until late September/early October:

“We entered our season with 50 qualified referees to call on and 40 you could class as being regularly available, and at that point everything looked encouraging.”

That was until Wilmot and his willing collection of ‘whistlers’, not to mention everyone else involved in the local game, had the rug pulled from under them as Covid dug its claws firmly into football and life in general.

“Another lockdown came along in November and ran into December when a small number of clubs wanted to and were able to play,” he reflected.

“Others felt it just wasn’t appropriate with the Government urging people to socially distance from one another and to generally take care when out and about.

“It’s fair to say that a lot of football club stalwarts, the ones charged with keeping things going during the pandemic, were in the ‘at risk’ category, and that applies to many of our referees as half of them are aged 50 and above and many are aged over 60.

“It’s all made for a testing several months, not just for me with my secretarial league and club duties but for everyone involved trying to get grassroots football up and running again.

“As it stands this second wave of the pandemic is getting the better of us; it is preventing us from playing and it remains to be seen for how long. We can’t get going again until at least February 27 and so many matches have already been postponed. It’s all putting our league organisers in an unenviable position trying to decide what best to do. But it’s no one’s fault as up until October things had been going well.”

Asked how he and his own football-loving family felt about the latest stoppage, Wilmot replied: “It’s obviously disappointing but I’m quite philosophical about it too.

“When the season started I had my concerns it would finish, although we all approached it in the usual optimistic way.

“I fully understand why we have stopped again. But, of course, it’s a shame as so many people miss their Saturday afternoons of football and that goes for me and my three sons who are all heavily involved.

“Jon manages our (Iron Acton) reserves in District One where Tom, who is also a coach at Red Falcons Under-11s in Keynsham, is a player playing under him. Their other brother Sam referees with the District League.

“We all miss the interaction football gives you. Most people are involved in the grassroots game because they enjoy getting together with a group of mates, not just for the action but for the beer and banter afterwards.

“All that’s been taken away from us and it’s happened over so many months now.

“I feel disappointed for everyone involved but, as I said; I also understand why we’re not playing at this time.”