Perthshire’s new whistlers are on the ball

Gordon Crawford believes the future of officiating is bright in the Perthshire region.

He has cast an eye over aspiring referees across the past two years in his role as president of the Perthshire and Angus Referees Association.

“When you start as a referee in Scotland you become a member of your local referee association,”Gordon said.

“For me that is Angus and Perthshire.

“This is a huge geographical area and we have referees from as far south as Auchterarder to as far north as Montrose.

“Being part of a local association allows us to manage refereeing matters that pertain specifically to district leagues across Perthshire, Dundee and Angus.

“We also have a very thorough programme of developing referees through observations, coaching and training.

“We run a referee recruitment class once a season in Perth, usually starting towards the end of August each year.

“This is a 10-week course, 90 minutes once a week, covering the laws of the game and culminating in an online exam.

“Assuming successful completion of that, a new referee will be carefully introduced to refereeing games at a level that is suitable for them and then will progress from there as appropriate. We generally get around 8-10 new referees through this process each season.

Retention can be a problem because some of them might decide refereeing is not for them after a while. But the vast majority stay involved and look to improve through dedication and hard work.

“I am pleased to say we have several young referees in the Perthshire area who we have very high hopes for. They have started young enough to go all the way in the game if they continue in the same vein.”

The benefits of becoming a referee are wide-ranging, with Gordon adding:“For those who might be thinking about taking up the whistle, I would recommend it.

“There are so many opportunities to get involved at a level that suits you, whether that be 11-a-side, seven-a-side, youth football (boys and girls), futsal and walking football.

“Not only will you improve your fitness and make a lot of new friends, you will also develop characteristics and skills that will serve you well in general life like reliability, communication, decisive thinking, integrity, common sense, confidence and administration.”

Gordon’s commitment and dedication to the game cannot be questioned.

He concluded:“As I have progressed in refereeing, I have understood the importance of giving something back to a hobby that has been so good to me.

“I have served on the management committee of Angus and Perthshire for several years now and as president for the last two. This has been a rewarding role and I wish my successor well as I pass over the reins to him.”

• If you would like to find out more about refereeing in the local area, email secretary@ aprefs.co.uk