Urgent plea for referees as course attracts just one person

Westmeath GAA referees’ coordinator Sean Sheridan has called on clubs to make a renewed effort to recruit new referees.

Speaking at the recent Westmeath County Committee meeting in the Mullingar Park Hotel, he said only one person has come forward for a refereeing course this year.

“Will we have any referees to do these games, because I have only got one person at present to do a foundation course,” was his stark reminder to clubs when the three options for age grades this year were being discussed.

“I was in Croke Park recently and heard clubs are responsible for providing referees. I’m begging every club to give me a name, not just any name, someone who is interested in taking up the whistle,” Sheridan added.

The referees’ coordinator is making every effort to improve the situation for the coming years by organising a course in the hope that clubs will find new volunteers to take up the role.

“I’m trying to have a foundation course; I have made over 30 phone calls myself to different people to see if they’ll come in and do a course. ‘I'll get back to you’, is what I’m told.

"We need young whistlers. I’m asking clubs to please give names. I need at least ten,” continued the Tyrrellspass club man, himself a former referee.

The challenge is as big as ever: some league games in other counties have already not gone ahead as there were no referees (and it’s only February).

Westmeath GAA chairman Frank Mescall appealed to clubs, especially the ones who don’t have a referee, to get serious about recruitment. He pointed to a number of sanctions counties have in place for clubs who don’t have referees, such as fines and refusal to provide All-Ireland tickets.

“A number of clubs in Westmeath do not have referees. There are more than ten,” the chairman explained.

Each of those clubs were urged to find one volunteer and then the foundation course can be held.