Congratulations to Stewar Blair, Tim Marshall & Clare Noble on their appointments as Assisitant Referees in the N. I. Schools Cup Final to be played at St. Julian’s Road, Omagh on Wednesday 31st March 2004, KO 2-30pm between St. Pats Dungannon and St. Colemans, Strabane. 

This his the Fermanagh and Western Development Group 2004 with all members just started refereeing this season. Front Row Left to right: Stewart Dobson, Richard Anderson, Matthew Young, Jolene Gillespie, Rodney Smith. Back Row: Shane Corrigan, Stephen Gamble, John Coyle, Warner Mullen and Vincent Melaugh.  The Fermanagh and Western have their own development group since 1997 and this year there are ten members to date which expected to increased in the coming weeks with the mentors being Sam Davis, Arnold Hunter, Clare noble, Roy Beacom, Basil Marshall and James Farrell with the next meeting taking place in the Bawnacre Centre on Wednesday 4th February 2004 at 8pm. 

IFA ONE DAY COURSE for the Fermanagh and Western Referees Association will take place on Sunday 22nd February 2004 at the Bawnacre Centre at 11am followed by the monthly meeting.Attendance at this his a must for all members with further details being sent to each indivual.  The speakers for the day are: Roy Cathcart President Fermanagh and Western Football association, Malcolm Wright IFA Instructor, Alan Snoddy IFA Instructor, Adrian Forbes Manager Derview FC and Arnold Hunter IFA Instructor.

John retires because of injury

Omagh whistler, John King has been forced  to retire from refereeing due to injury and this without doubt a big blow to  our association. John as serve in the past on the association committee and  as vice chairman was level 5 referee. The chairman Basil Marshall said " It  was sad to hear of John decision and would like to thank him service to the  association but I'm please to say that John won't walk away from refereeing  but will hope to go into assessing."

5 Aside Football
To all members interested in attending training at the  Bawnacre Centre on Sunday 23rd November 2003 @ 2:45pm please contact us  on fwrefs@hotmail.com

Quiz
Members  meet at the Bawnacre Centre also on Sunday 23rd November 2003 @
4:15

35th Anniversary Dinner
The association 35th anniversary dinner will be  held in Mahons Hotel
Irvinestown on Saturday 13th December 2003, tickets are  available from
Neville Cathcart and must be purchase on or before the 24th  November
2003.
Everyone his asked to make every effort to  attend.
 

George is our  President
The Fermanagh and Western delagates at the Northern Ireland  Referees meeting were delighted when they were inform that George  Parkinson could take up his
post as President and this was with the  approval of the IFA. George only founder member to be still involved in  the association  will be formley re-elected into the position of president  at November monthly  meeting.

FRANKIE 950 NOT  OUT
Omagh based referee, Frankie Hannigan took charge of his 950th game  on Saturday 8th November 2003 in Fermanagh and Western first division with Killen Rangers defeating Kevlin United 2-1.Frankie has been refereeing 34 years in the association, taking chage of the 1975 Mulhern Cup  final.  Frankie began refereeing some 37 years ago when to sat a  beginners course taken by Jimmy Haughey and refereed in the North West,  and if you include youth games which haven't been record of then Frankie  would have a few more hundred names to his credit.  The Association  Chairman, Basil Marshall said "Frankie a valuable member of the  association who every Saturday turns out come rain or shine, what ever the level of the game he treats with complete professionalism at  all times."On reaching 950th game Frankie said "now I'd like to go on and  make it to the 1000th appearnce but you can only do about 25 games a  season as friendless don't count - so I'd need to keeep going for another  two years if I'm going to reach that mark."  At 69 years of age Frankie  still enjoying refereeing and intends to reach 1000 mark: to set an even  greater milestone in the future.