Reading RA is the biggest
in the Berks & Bucks area with 172 members last season and one
of the best known in the country. It has been going strong for
more than 80 years. The membership includes men, women and youth
referees from 14 years of age up to some still active in their
70s, and from all walks of life. They cover a wide range of
experience and currently officiate in over 20 leagues.
Reading has a history of
producing Football League officials among them the late Lionel
Gibbs who was one of the first English referees to officiate in
South America. Present Premiership and FIFA referee Graham Poll
was a member here when he lived in the area and Iain Williamson,
one of our present members, now referees on the Nationwide
Football League.
Aside from its critical
role in training new referees on behalf of the County FA, the
society provides a forum, a place for referees to meet other
referees, to meet friends with a common interest - in refereeing
and in football.
There are monthly meetings
from August to May, with different activities including.
guest speakers
representing some of the many facets of refereeing and football.
further training sessions
and workshops to keep us up-to-date and help us to improve our
skills
but above all they provide
the opportunity to be with fellow referees for camaraderie,
mutual support and improvement - whether your refereeing is to
be at local level or you have ambitions to make it to the top.
