Referee Network Ladies and Gentlemen, Over the past few years, in fact since the development of our Leagues you might be aware that we have been working to establish a Referee Network to cover our fixtures which are not, and inevitably, cannot be covered by our respective Societies. The advantages of such an organisation is immediately clear in the playing of our League Games, neutral referees, elimination of " Homer " accusations. At the present time we have four Groups, covering four areas, The North Lancs Association, The East Lancs. Group, The West Lancs. Group and The South Manchester Group. We of course would like to extend the cover to possibly The Wirral area and also a group to cover the Mid-Cheshire area. The Gentlemen concerned with our Societies are generally our normal Club Referees who officiate at our own Clubs on a Saturday to Saturday basis. The advantage to these Gentlemen is that on joining a respective Group they then Referee different sides every week and of course different players. It is a fact that all the players concerned respect the efforts these Gents are putting in. The Groups also take on prospective new Referees looking to ply the refereeing trade and possibly move on to the Societies. They also include Gentlemen who move from the Societies back to normal Club arrangements feeling that they might be better off without some of the restraints in respect of travelling distances and full committment required - rightly so - by the Societies. With our Groups covering specific areas, the travel committments are minimal. There is no cost being a member of one of these Groups, and where possible jerseys will be provide for prospective Refs. Expenses are provide by the Clubs in line with our respective Referees Societies. We are looking for people to join these Groups for the coming season, which will help us to extend our cover to Clubs at present not using this facility. Meetings will be held as follows in August ;- South Manchester --- Bowdon Rugby Club Friday 22nd August 8.00p.m. West Lancs. --- Ruskin Park Rugby Club Wednesday 20th August 7.30 p.m. East Lancs and North Lancs Combined Meeting To be held at Preston Grasshoppers Last week in August Date to be finalised. At these Meetings Appointments will be made up to the Xmas period so that our Referees know their committments to that period.At the Meeting they should be able to pick games they feel they might enjoy officiating.Referees contacts or fixture Secretaries should attend the Meetings armed with their home committments for the period detailed. We are not looking at a full Saturday to Saturday committment you can choose which Saturdays and how many Saturdays you might be able to commit to in this period. No restrictions or pressure. Managers of the Groups are as follows ; - South Manchester :- Simon Muckle ( Wilmslow ) East Lancs. :- Bert Lambert ( Colne and Nelson ) West Lancs. :- Brian Ball ( Ruskin Park ) North Lancs. :- John Powell ( Preston Grasshoppers ) Personally I am grateful to John and Andy Thompson ( Fleetwood ) ( Contact numbers on Miller Homes Site.) who are really the two most knowledgeable people regards the operation of these Groups. I really am just the Gofa. Please consider the above and where possible please offer your services whatever the number of games you might be able to commit to. GENTLEMEN YOU ARE OR WILL BE COVERED BY INSURANCE a question we are continually asked. Fred Swarbrick. Chairman Miller Homes Leagues and Bateman BMW Premier League.