About the Branch

The Cheltenham Branch was formed on 8th December 1927 with an initial membership of 18 and became affiliated to the Midland Section of the Referees Association, under the watchful eye of Mr H.P .Stott, Secretary of the Midlands. only 9 members attended the inaugurate meeting on the 31st January 1928 The Branch was instrumental in the formation of the Gloucester and Cirencester Branches and formed a close contact with the Forest of Dean Referees. Through the efforts of Mr A. E. Errington, Secretary of the Cheltenham Branch, the Gloucestershire RA County Committee was formed in 1938. In 1939 the Cheltenham Branch were afforded the honour of organising the 1940 Annual Conference of the RA. Various ideas were put forward at the monthly meeting as to raising the necessary funds, such as setting aside one Saturday match fee, not exceeding 5/- a darts match after each Branch Meeting and a fine levied against Referees not attending Branch Meetings. It was not until June 29th 1946 that the 28th Annual Conference was held at the Cheltenham Town Hall, with the President John Gilroy presiding.
Incidentally it was the Cheltenham Branch who started entertaining the Ladies with a "Motor Coach Tour of the Cotswolds" and tea at Stow-on-the-Wold. John Crowther our 50 year member was responsible for organising the Cheltenham Conference in June 2003 raising substantial funds that enabled this Conference to go with a swing John was supported by Alan Pearce the Branch Chairman and Joe Mizzi the branch Treasurer with a back up team from the county branches

The Cheltenham Branch Headquarters are located at the New Victory Club Burlington House Lypiatt Road Cheltenham which is the Montpellier area of Cheltenham just off the main A40 into Cheltenham We cover the Cheltenham area as far as the Cotswolds and Tewkesbury. Meetings are held at the Victory Club on the Third Thursday of every month August to May and commence at 7.45pm Member Referees from all branches are always invited to attend and non-members are welcome. We are members of the Referees Association and are affiliated to the Gloucestershire Football Association

We usually have around between 60/70 members each season from all standards of refereeing. Our current membership stands at 52. The cost of subscription to this branch which includes the Referees Association insurance package is £20 per year and for under 18's only £15. Fees are due on the 1st April each year Meetings, are informal social occasions where we discuss all aspects of football and refereeing over a chat and a drink. At meetings we have either a guest speaker or a discussion topic for the evening. The Society holds a number of social events over the course of the season

You can contact Cheltenham by E Mail alanpat100@btinternet.com

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 Branch Matters

It is that time of the season again when your membership subscription becomes due, it is regretted that the fees to the main body of The Referees Association have increased by £2 to £15 along with your branch fee of £5 making a total fee of £20 which includes the compulsory insurance. I have enclosed the subscription form with these few notes. The Loaf and the FA Diary can still be ordered through Joe (see subscription form). Please be advised that if you order these items you must arrange to collect at one of our meetings or pay the posting cost for the diary which is £1.20p and for the Loaf £1.52p second class.

In this our Centenary Year that any newly registered referee joining the RAE in 2008 – 2009 for the first time will only pay the £11.00 membership fee (£5.50 for juniors) and once received from his/her local ABS the new full member will receive a £10.00 voucher (£5 after 1st January 2009), a junior member would receive a £5 voucher (£2.50 after 1st January 2009) redeemable against RA supplies, a membership card and centenary coin. If the scheme was successful then it may be rolled out in future years. Ian Davies will produce a fly sheet for all CRA and ABS secretaries explaining how the three suggestions can work and it was hoped this will encourage membership of the RAE.

The Referees Association EVE-OF-FINAL RALLY Friday, 16th May 2008, 6pm for 6.45pm.The New Connaught Rooms Great Queen Street London WC2B 5DA (Two minutes' walk from Holborn Station on the Central Line) tickets available at £12.50 from Head Office

Any one who requires assistance with their fitness training should contact Steve Oakey of Cheltenham as Steve runs fitness sessions every Thursday except for Cheltenham Branch meeting nights.

Members are advised to obtain any Kit Requirements through the Referees Association the items sold are of a much better quality and all profits go to running your Association you can either order via the website or via Joe Mizzi the Branch Supplies Officer and Treasurer.

Cheltenham Soccer Sevens would be running again this year any Referee who was interested should contact the Chairman Jim Harding. Starts on Tuesday 8th April. A Sunday competition for six a side would be starting on 13th April, all taking place at Bourneside School. A co-ordinator is required for the Sunday evening. In all aspects please contact Jim Harding. Other competitions also take place in our area.

We look forward to seeing you at our meetings. The Rules of our Branch along with your membership card will be issued some time in early August along with the Agenda prior to our Branch Meeting on 21st August 2008.

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Local Matters

The Gloucestershire Football Association are increasing the travel expenses to 32p per mile effective from the 31st March 2008

FAMOA day 2008. Now confirmed as Sunday 31st August 2008 at Forest Green Rovers FC new facilities, 10am until 4pm registration at 9.30am. It would be hoped (weather permitting) that this will be mainly an outdoor learning event. You are advised to put this date in your diary as all registered referees will receive an invitation. A buffet lunch will be provided free of charge. Definitely not to be missed.

It has been noted that some Referees are failing to send in match reports to the Gloucestershire Football Association concerning disciplinary offences in respect of players, club officials and spectators. All cautions, sending offs and pre- match or post match problems must be reported to the Gloucestershire Football Association at all levels of football (Not any one else). No one has the authority to ask or tell you not to send in your reports and if they do, that also must be reported.

During April you will receive your Gloucestershire Football Association registration form for the 2008/2009 season you should complete and return immediately with the Registration fee of £15, remember if you fail to register and continue to referee you will not be covered by the public liability insurance of the GFA (I understand that the Gloucestershire Football Association will take payment by credit/debit card) failure to register and return means you will not be in the County Handbook and you will be unlikely to receive any promotion, or County and FA Cup appointments.

It was noted that any Referee who is thinking of retiring or giving up Refereeing The Gloucestershire Football Association requires Assessors or Mentors, for assessing they should contact Colin Harris and for mentoring the new Referee Development Officer.

58% of County League and 53% of Western League Div.1 matches in the County have been assessed so far this season, which exceeds the required figure of 50%.

The Football Association recommends that you join the Referees Association who offer through FAMOA a number of incentives to obtain kit and other goods for free on completion of an application form from Roger Vaughan. All County Registered Referees will receive an invitation. All Referee Association members now receive a joint Referees Association and Football Association 48 page glossy magazine free of charge 3 times per year.

The promotion season for referees runs from 1st March till the 28th February each year; most re-classifications will be considered in March each year. Although the closing date for Promotions is the 28th February in any year we will consider applications up to the 1st September in that year. If it is your intention to apply for promotion for the 2008/2009 season you should make application to Mr Ken Fry as soon as possible as the promotion system is an ongoing process with promotions being agreed in March each season.See page 203 of the County Handbook.

Referee Promotion – 2008 / 09  Please note new dates

Assistant Referee Seminar (Must attend on one date or other)

20th Sep 2008 – GFA Headquarters (1900hrs – 2130hrs)

13th Sep 2008 – Oxstalls Campus Gloucester (1900hrs – 2130hrs)

Promotion Seminar.

13th Aug 2008 – Oxstalls Campus Gloucester (1900 – 2130hrs)

26th Jan 2009 – GFA Headquarters (Start times 1900, 2000, 2100hrs)