present 31
Doug Austen-Jones,Edwin Barratt, Mark Breeding, Derek Budgen, Roger Cragg, Kevin Davies, Fred Davis, Peter Dawes,Ryan Ellis, Dave Ellmer, Theresa Ellmer,
Dave Fennings,John Flynn, Dave Fraser, Des Gasson, Brian Hall, Mark Jackson, Paul John, Peter King, Karl Luckhurst, Dominic Lyons, Brian Markham, Julian Moore, Tom Moore,Robin Parks, John Raftery, Nick Rowe, Gary Strangwood, Neil Wallace, Peter Wallace & Graham Wilson

Apologies 13
Andy Duffy, John Carey, Mervyn Coomber, Rod  Ellis, James Harding, Paul Hartman, Pat Kite, Ian Lawson, Rob Lawson, Colin Mallows, Robert Noe, Alan Scott & Andy Short

Chairman's opening...
Paul John welcomed our "nomadic" gathering to the BH Conservative Club. He commented on the cost of Hassocks and requested views from the membership re venue.
He confirmed there will be a SCLMO meeting on the 17th December at Hassocks to cover the "clampdown" on abusive language.
Paul also mentioned the January meeting quiz and re-iterated it is a general knowledge quiz and urged members to attend what is always a very enjoyable evening.
Match incidents...

David Ellmer re a  Crawley league, game approx 25 mins 2 players competing, snarling one pulls his opponents shorts then suggests that he'd been harshly treated. DE awards a FK and the player only stands 5 yards off ball DE shows him a yellow card.

Paul John re a Rustington v Peacehaven County League game, 15 mins to go in what was a tight game. There is a collision of a rushing (Rustington) forward with the goalkeeper and both players were hurt, Physio's come on. Treatment takes some time. Paul's assistant comes onto the pitch to say Peacehaven had made a sub. PJ still handling the injured party. Apparently the goalkeeper had been subbed but refused to leave. Peacehaven manager claimed no substitution and PJ agreed.
Rustington queried this after the game. However Paul rightly pointed out to him the the substitution process had not been completed.

Gary Strangwood (with puberty like voice) re operating a game with club assistants. Sent a player off from the FOP following Offensive language which Gary felt
was aimed at a club assistant. The player later claimed he was talking generally and not about a specific individual. They wish to appeal. The meeting felt Gary took the right course of action.

Des Gasson talked about his commission following a Billingshurst game where following the end of the game he was hit by a stone thrown by a player he had
previously sent off. Des at his earliest convenience reported this to Martin Hollands following the procedure for an assault. The case went to commission
but was found unproven as Des was unable to positively identify the stone thrower.  Des however felt he had a fair hearing despite the verdict. Dave Rogers
(Eastbourne RS) gave wonderful support to Des and also attended the hearing as a silent witness / moral support.  Des wished to thank Dave through this meeting.

Mr Doug Austen-Jones expressed how good it was to see Des here in the Conservative Club (despite his recent ordeal).
Des Gasson re Keymer Hassocks v Scaynes Hill  SH manager, who was named as sub and acting as assistant referee head butted a player as he was about to take a corner kick. He was shown red card and Des asked him to leave the vicinity of the game or the game would be abandoned.
Gary Strangwood asked position of red card if none player. David Ellmer confirmed that only the named players and named subs that can be shown the red/yellow card.
David Fennings regaled us with his account of a County Cup game at Bexhill.The local area housing office had recently had complaints about swearing. So Dave was asked to take a firm hand. Following a challenge, the Mid Sussex side’s manager remarked to the referee using the C**T word and this within short distance of members of the public that included
two young females. David decided to take firm action and removed the manager and reported him for misconduct. After the game the two young females shouted abuse at David and called him a C**T saying he was wrong to dismiss their dad! The meeting erupted in laughter.
Julian Moore refereed a Junior cup game and for the second time the same manager failed to pay the match fee. He did later call Julian at home but Julian said he would report him.
Whilst on the subject of money Paul John told how he officiated a game recently where the manager only had £10 to pay his match fee. Paul said it was okay he could pay by cheque! The cheque arrived but when it was presented, it bounced!!

Julian Moore re a Mid Sussex game at Crowborough 1:30pm  ko. 35 min in both balls went over to main County League pitch where the Crowborough 2nd team were
playing. Neither balls were returned and spare balls were inadaquate. The Crowboro centre forward decided to take the matter into his own hands and jumped
over the fence to retrieve the balls. There the Crowborough manager and the player had words, Julian intervened and was the Crowborough manager was less than sympathetic to Julian's cause. Julian felt his manner was such that he was reported to county FA.
Neil Wallace had a similar situation recently during a Sussex Senior Cup game where balls came over from the other pitch.
Peter KIng  recently took a last minute schools cup appointment from Brian Brigden. In the 2nd half of the game there was a dispute re the use of roll on/roll off substitutes. Much to Peter's frustration as nobody had queried their use during the first half. Though Peter took this as a late appointment (and was therefore not in receipt of a copy of competition rules) Incidentally roll on/off subs were allowed in the rules of this competition.

Secretaries report John Flynn
Confirmation on the societies votes for election to Referee's Association of England management board.

Nigel Genner  Stourbrige     50 votes
Colin Harris  Bristol        50
Ray Mallery   Croydon        50
Eddie McGrath Bootle          0

The result was announced on the 16th November. The three elected were Mr Genner, Mr Harris and Mr Mallery.

The secretary has received an email from the County RA sec re the falling membership of RA.
A task force of eminent individuals is to consider ways of reversing the trend. (Sec to supply more information to members).
 
The falling membership issue prompted a discussion on MSRS mentoring.....
Peter King has taken over from Graham Wilson with regard to the mentoring of new referees, Roger Cragg offered assessors (when free of other committments) to assist Peter.

Paul John announced that Roger is retiring as northern referee coordinator Fred Davis is to take over. Roger was thanked for all his efforts with a generous round of applause.

Treasurer's Report Ryan Ellis
47 members
Current account £1,642.14   Assets £2,875.30 Total  £4,517.44

On being asked by Mr DAJ Ryan said he would check to see whether the entry fee had been paid for the 5 a side competition.

Recruitment and Retention Fred Davis
Spoke of reasons for loss of membership and ways this was to be combatted. fred spoke of exit interviews proving invaluable in finding out why people stop refereeing.
Fred also asked anyone to give feedback to him regarding society meetings.
Training Officers report - David Ellmer ~ Nothing.
Delegate to MSFL.   Graham Watson ~ not present. paul John to contact Graham.
AOB
MSRS came 3rd and 4th in recent RA quiz held at Portslade. The Brighton RS5 were the winning team.
The Sussex FA referee's committee is to propose an increased level of fees for next season of £2 and will also propose an increase in mileage allowance to 30p per mile. Irrespective of whether this proposal is adopted the Mid Sussex FL will adopt 30p per mile from the 1st January 2008.

After a short break the Kevin Davies asked us to form three groups and each consider and feedback on various refereeing issues.

“The referee’s Association recently announced figures indicating a drop of membership. How do you think this trend could be reversed”.
“What are the three biggest challenges facing referees and how would you like to see these addressed”.
“In order to be professional about what we do, please discuss and feedback every task you consider that a referee should undertake prior to leaving home to travel to a game”.
And finally...
“When acting as an assistant referee how do you gauge your level in match involvement and how if you felt a player needed to be disciplined would you consider attracting the attention of the referee?”

The secretary will feedback on everyone's input at a later date.

THANKS TO THOSE THAT SOLD RAFFLE TICKETS AND THE MANY OF YOU THAT DONATED XMAS RAFFLE PRIZES

I would espically like to thank Mr Gary Mitchell for very kindly donating a wonderful raffle prize of Sunday lunch for 2 people at the Barnsgate Manor.

I hope you all have a wonderful Christmas.