Ricky Mooney

Having retired from the Senior Register of Referees at the end of Season 2006 / 2007, I was delighted to be offered the position of Association Manager to the SFA Referees (Stirlingshire) by the Scottish Football Association. Although this transition has not been easy, I believe I now have a grasp of the roles and responsibilities that this position brings.

My main role is to act as the SFA representative within the area and to support and develop members within the Association. I do not do this alone and there are many active members of the Association who support me to ensure that members receive the correct advice and guidance at whatever level they perform.

I also ensure that the members have the structures required to develop themselves and it is my responsibility to provide physical fitness training, physiotherapy, meeting and referee education facilities, as well as appointing suitable individuals to deliver these services.

I feedback to the SFA regarding all aspects of the Association and submit various information and details as required to allow them to overview the local association within a national perspective and make informed decisions where appropriate. This may be around member attendance at training/meetings or recommendations for referee classification as included in submission of local Development Plans or any other specific details requested.

Like most things in life, advancement is something that must be earned. The way to achieve progression in refereeing, in addition to the ability to recognise a foul, is through attendance at Monthly Meetings and participation in Training, as well as general involvement and support of the Association. The Stirlingshire Association has appointed an excellent trainer in Lex Robertson who, with his 20+ years experience in providing this service, has consistently ensured that the level of fitness and advice offered to all participants at the training sessions is of the highest quality and covers all ages and abilities.

If you are already a member of the Association, I would be pleased to see you at training or meetings. It can only help your refereeing and if you have no great desire to progress through the ranks, or have missed out due to other factors, we can still support you to improve yourself and become a better referee.

If you are not a member but wish to become a referee you will be welcome to join us. Contact the Association Secretary for information on the next class.

Ricky Mooney
SFA Referees (Stirlingshire)
Association Manager