Next generation of referees put through their paces at Spalding Grammar School

An impressive 16 students recently completed the FA Basic referees course at Spalding Grammar School.

Nine students from Spalding Grammar were joined by seven others from around the county to be put through their paces by the Lincs FA Training Team – Michael Brader, Rob Windle, Sarah Grundy, Simon Bell, Jonathan Amess and George Richardson.

The course entailed a two hour evening induction session, followed by a full weekend of theoretical and practical workshops in order to provide the young people with the knowledge and skills for refereeing. 

It then finished with the students being assessed while refereeing a small-sided match.

As part of the wider qualification the students will now complete five matches before sitting the formal referees examination to fully qualify and begin officiating local matches.

The games they will officiate include some played in the Peterborough Junior Alliance League, meaning that teams in South Holland will benefit from this new influx of referees.

Spalding Grammar School’s Director of Football Dave Endersbee said: “I am extremely pleased to see so many students engage in such an important qualification. Refereeing combines a whole host of skills that the wider school wish to promote; including  role modelling, organisation, communication and respect.

“It is something we have tried to organise within the School for a number of years, and thanks to the excellent work of Michael Brader and his team and the positive attitude of the students, it has happened.  

“Hosting the course at SGS has been a pleasure, and it is fantastic to see the students grow in confidence as the weekend progressed.”

The students involved from Spalding Grammar were Sam Nickels, Amy Magnus, Joe Summers, Bradley Waters, Thomas McManaman-Cookson, Eirik Otis, Michael Baxter, Callum Green and Jordan Elston.

They were joined by Ethan Kemball, James Lea, Euan Beeby, George Ingram, Toby Woolsey, Ben Robinson and Daniel Abayomi. 

• The next meeting of the Spalding Referees’ Association will be on Thursday, March 30 with a 7.45pm start at the Spalding Services and Social club (24 High Street, Spalding).

All new and existing referees wishing to extend their knowledge and meet fellow officials will be welcome to attend.