Tom Bevan recently gave an interesting talk to other referees in Pembrokeshire about the fact that he is on the EUFA West Wales’ Referees Development Group, one of only 39 in Wales that have been recognised as being likely to officiate at the highest level. Using the Pembrokeshire Referees’ Society’s new laptop and screen, sponsored by LNG, at the Neyland Athletic Club, he spoke really well. We collared young Tom afterwards and asked him some questions about his involvement – and we feel we can safely say . . .
Tom’s on the road to top reffing
How did you get on to this elite group?
It came through my regular assessments and recommendation. It is closely mentored by Mark Whitby, who is regarded as one of the best Welsh referees and of the 39 across Wales there are six in the West Wales Group, one of them a female. I started out at the annual conference in 2011 at Newtown, where it was nice to meet up with all the others on the scheme. We were welcomed by Roger Gifford and there were video clips from top matches and a presentation by Phil Thomas, a FIFA assistant referee, on the duties of an assistant referee at top games. The main speaker was Alan Snoddy, from the Northern Ireland Development System, who had officiated at two World Cup Finals. Then there was a fitness test at Neath – and that nearly killed me!
What followed on from that start?
The idea was that we were given good games to gain experience, with regular assessment, and as well as two matches in the Welsh League Division Two I also reffed Merthyr Tydfil versus Porthmadog in the FAW Girls Cup. We also had to attend the Llanelli v Airbus match in the Welsh Premier League, where Mark Whitby was in charge, and had to make notes and then give a written assessment of his performance. It was not easy!
Tell us what you’ve been doing
since on the scheme?
Well, it was back to Newtown with Roger Gifford for this year’s conference and the speakers included Brian Lawler on EUFA Development targets, plus young referees Louis Edwards and Daniel Beckett, who spoke of their time at EUFA headquarters on the EUFA core programme and then refereeing in Malta. Darren Eadie also spoke about ‘Applying the Advantage Law’ but the highlight was an inspiration talk by top referee Mark Halsey, who took charge of the recent massive Liverpool versus Manchester United tussle.
Mark has recovered from throat cancer and fought back to take charge at the highest level again – and we all had a lump in our throats when he was explaining how he failed his first fitness test after his attempted return, but with encouragement from Mark Clattenburg and other well-known refs he managed to return to the peak of refereeing. His whole talk was so uplifting!
Have you been kept busy with the whistle?
As well as all my local matches, I also officiated at the Academy Finals Day in Newtown and was joined by Ben Williams as assistant referees to Bryn Jones for the final of Merthyr v Porthmadog under 14s final. When Wales played Poland in an under 17 girls’ friendly I joined Ryan Kenny at Richmond Park, Carmarthen running the line for Eddie King. That was the game I asked my dad Huw to take a picture of the official line-up as a memento and he did just that – but from the wrong side of the pitch, almost 60 yards away, and showing all our backsides!
And off the pitch?
Our latest meeting dealt with rules and regulation changes and WWFA Referees’ Officer David Rees spoke about his visions of the future. At our next meeting we have Welsh Premier League referee Kevin Morgan and in the meanwhile I will be consistently assessed and mentored, as well as having to write a written self-assessment of every match in which I take charge. Then there will be the dreaded fitness test early next spring – and I am going to make sure I cope better with that than last year!
What about ambitions?
I enjoyed playing in goal for Clarbeston Road and I am enjoying my refereeing now, both locally and ‘up the line’. I am lucky to have total family support and the Pembrokeshire Referees’ Society has been an enormous help. I know I can call on loads of good local referees to ask for advice and I still enjoy attending the monthly meetings. I can only say that I will keep going and what it brings I can only guess – but if I don’t do well I promise you it will not be want of trying!
** PembrokeshireSport.co.uk thoroughly enjoyed listening to Tom’s enlightening talk and our post-meeting chat. He is a really modest and unassuming young feller with a smashing sense of humour that referees are sometimes not given credit for – and we wish him every success in the hope that other local young whistlers will aspire to follow in his footsteps! **
Captions:
Tom Bevan with Jonathan Twigg, Pedr McMullen & Dave Badger
Tom setting out on his talk to local refs
Tom and other young refs with Mark Halsey
Tom's favourite picture - taken by dad Huw . . .
. . . and the official pic of officials and captains!