ALREADY this season has seen huge milestones with the Vale of Glamorgan Referees Society now being one of the largest in the Referees Association of Wales.

On top of Josh Taylor becoming the first Vale referee in the FAW Referees Academy and welcoming Evie Brown, the Vale’s first female referee, the momentum has continued with many of the other referees making progress towards their promotion.

Guest speakers over the season have included Ray Ellingham, FAW referees officer, and Geoff Buckingham, SWFA disciplinary secretary. Geoff’s attendance was considered so useful and informative he is now looking to expand the workshop out to all the other societies.

Mark Harvey has continued in his role as liaison officer in the Vale league and has once again been excellent in his appointments of officials ensuring just about all senior games have referees as well as a vast improvement in the number of junior matches having the same benefit.

Two of the stalwart members Martin New and Chris Bowsher have also continued their service to the South Wales Referees Association as chair and treasurer respectively.

The only downside through the season has been the death of VoGRS president Chris Dodd in April. Chris, a former referee, had been a great supporter of society until he suffered his bad health a few years ago.

Finally via Mark Barrett of RIM Motors, and his generous sponsorship of the society over the past few seasons, many VoGRS members have been supplied with their new referees kit embossed with the RIM Motors logo – another first for VoGRS being the first society in Wales to be allowed to wear their sponsors logos on their referees kit.

Major changes are coming this summer with the laws having a major overhaul with many changes and interpretations coming including possible local level initiatives.

Should anyone have thoughts of becoming a referee or would like more information then please contact them by emailing vogrs@hotmail.co.uk or visit pitchero.com/clubs/valeofglamorganrefereessociety