TWO recently-qualified referees, Jay Winnett and Fin Ward were presented by Ken Clark – president of Reading Referees’ Association – with bursaries from the East Berks Football Alliance Gary Stevenson Referee Development Fund at Woodley United’s managers’ meeting.

Stevenson, who died in 2009, was a referee and involved with Winnersh Rangers and Reeves Rangers, and the fund is used to support newly-qualified referees as they make their way in the sport.

Both Winnett and Ward referee Woodley United FC youth matches and as part of their mentoring and development are supported by Reading RA.

  • THE guest speaker at Reading Referee’s Association meeting next Thursday (February 15) is Dan Leach.

After becoming an assistant referee in the Football League at the age of 20, Leach became a founder member of the FA Select Group 2 Assistant Referees. This means he is now a specialist assistant referee, lining mainly Championship games.

This is a new method for referees to be able to reach the top levels of the game. The meeting will start at 7.45 pm at Earley Home Guard Club.

All referees are welcome.