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Welcome to the home of the Pontypridd & District Referees' Society

S.W.F.A. Saturday Intermediate Cup Final
7th May at Taffs-Well 7pm k.o features Llanharan v Penrhiwceiber Con

Amateur League John Owen Cup Final
9th May at Ynyshanharad Park features Rhoose FC v Ynysduu Crusaders

S.W.F.A. Senior Cup Final
12th May at Ento Aberaman kick off 6:30pm features Caerau FC v Penydarren BGC

A maniac footballer who attacked an opposition player with a chainsaw after he was sent off has been spared a jail term.
Anthony Lloyd, 20, was ordered off the pitch for foul language.
But returned with the power tool and tried to chop the hands off rival Paul Westwood while yelling: “I’m a crank.”
Lloyd, who had been drinking, was on a conditional discharge for possessing a knife when he went on the rampage in Horley, Surrey.
Prosecutor Laura Plant said: “They heard an engine start and saw the defendant coming out of the bushes revving a chainsaw.
“The victim’s friend ran off, leaving him cornered by the defendant.”
Lloyd thrusted the chainsaw at Mr Westwood, cutting his chest.
Ms Plant told Guildford Crown Court: “He tried to chop his hands off.”
Police later arrested Lloyd on July 23 and the weapon was found in the same road. Lloyd, of Horley, admitted possessing an offensive weapon and affray.
Judge Neil Stewart jailed him for a year, suspended for two years, and ordered him to attend a drug rehabilitation programme.
The judge told Lloyd: “You had been drinking, you were unpleasant, you went away and then for some reason you brought back a chainsaw which was running.
“Paul Westwood was at your mercy, cowering under a bush. Mercifully, almost miraculously one might say, it only resulted in a superficial cut.”

Welsh Assistant Referees are today celebrating their appointments onto the FIFA list for 2009.

Further good news for Welsh Referees were announced with the FIFA Referees' Full List being increased from three to four with Huw Jones being added.

The FIFA Assistant Referee List is also being increased with Kim Fisher (Cardiff) joining for the for the first time together with Gareth Ayres from Port Talbot, John Swindley (Wrexham) and John Roberts (Caernarfon).

The FIFA Assistant Referees also being retained are Alun Boore (Cardiff), Phil Bates (Caldicot), Eddie King (Swansea) and Phil Thomas (Trealaw).

Our own Brian James (Pontypridd) has not been retained due to his well earned and deserved promotion to the full list of the Welsh Premier League for the 2008/09 season and Maldwyn Williams (Bethel) has reached the retirement age of FIFA officials.

Full List of FIFA Referees

Ceri Richards- Llanelli
Mark Whitby- Swansea
Lee Evans- Bethesda
Huw Jones- Llanrhaeadr-ym-Mochnant

FIFA Assistant Referees

John Roberts-Caernarfon
Phil Bates – Caldicot
Alun Boore – Cardiff
Kim Fisher- Cardiff
Gareth Ayres- Port Talbot
Eddie King - Swansea
Phil Thomas – Trealaw
John Swindley-Wrexham

Penarth Times 7:00am Thursday 11th December 2008 by TERRY ALLDAY Secretary, Vale of Glamorgan Referees Society
THERE HAS been a great deal of speculation in the media about referees and their assistants getting the "big decisions" wrong. In fact there is more emphasis on these "wrong decisions" than on the actual football. The media want TV replays, but if FIFA relent, what next? Every miss-hit shot or pass being scrutinised? How will teams rectify their mistakes? More shooting and passing practice?
Football is a game for human error. All perfect for making a sensational news items. But my question will always be: Are the pundits actually qualified to question refereeing decisions? I base my argument on the fact that I only played grass roots football for around 10 years - you could argue that's only a minimal amount at a minimal level. I wouldn't disagree.
Nor have I ever coached or managed a team or have any qualifications in football coaching. However, as with all the other armchair supporters and newspaper columnists, I always think I can pick a better team than the professional coaches.
Whether a team plays with "Lampard in a mid-field role in the hole behind the forwards" or "playing the ball down the channels for Ronaldo to chase", I really don't fully understand the tactics I just hear the phrases and the rhetoric.
It's not dissimilar to parks football I know the phrase but not necessarily the action behind it. With that in mind I really have no qualification or real experience to be able to coach a team regarding tactics or styles of play. Having no media experience (apart from the odd article) am I really qualified to write about football?
But with over 20 years of refereeing I believe I am qualified to write about refereeing. I do believe that everyone should concentrate on their own job so why do the media and coaches insist on making comments on subjects where they are not qualified?
It annoys me when I see criticism of referees in the local press and it seems to be becoming more regular this season. Maybe the answer is for referees to send in their opinion of teams and how well they played or performed?
I think there would be a few upset players - so how do you think the referee feels? It shouldn't be a one-way street. The VoGRS is working with the FAW Trust and is starting an initiative speaking to junior clubs in an attempt to ensure all involved have an understanding of the Laws.
Jimmy Hill campaigned for ex-professional footballers to be fast tracked as referees - that's fine, no complaints from the Referees Association - yet I don't see any.
Maybe the money is not good enough? Or maybe they don't know enough about refereeing? It is a different skill to playing, as is coaching, and it's about time people wised up to the fact.
Good footballers don't necessarily make good managers or coaches - it's a different skill with different disciplines. The same can be said about refereeing. Refereeing is a learning curve and, as with everything in life, everyone has a different learning speed, knowledge retention and limit.
What the VoGRS tries to do is ensure its members are made aware of the facts, the background and the method of how to undertake these decisions proficiently and with knowledge - it is a skill to be learnt!
And finally the VoGRS wish all clubs, players, officials and supporters a Merry Christmas!

A 20-year-old man has been charged with murder after an amateur footballer died following a fight with opposing players at the end of a game in west London.

Stephen Ritchie, 43, died of head injuries after he became involved in a brawl at the final whistle of the match on Sunday afternoon, police said.

Mr Ritchie, of Brentford, west London, was pronounced dead at the scene at Little Harlington Playing Fields.
A second man, also 20, has been charged with causing actual bodily harm (ABH).

Darren Forwood, of Frays Avenue, West Drayton, has been charged with murder and Brandon Thompson, of Widmore Road, Hillingdon, is charged with ABH. Both will appear at Uxbridge Magistrates Court on Tuesday. Mr Ritchie, who played for Old Greenfordians, was pronounced dead at the scene about 45 minutes later. A post mortem examination on Monday morning gave the cause of death as a head injury. Mr Ritchie died after his team won an away match 4-3 against Kingshill Town in the Hayes and District Sunday Football League Division One.

Ron Dunning, chairman of the league, said: "Our thoughts are with the family of the deceased player, his friends and his colleagues at the Old Greenfordians Football Club at this terrible time. "The league will provide whatever practical support and assistance the family needs although we recognise that, at the present time, they will wish to mourn their loss in private."