ARE YOU UP FOR THE CUP?
New trophies to be presented at AGM

With so many success stories involving Association members this past season, the Association of Spartan South Midlands Football League Match Officials is delighted to announce that it has purchased three new trophies to be presented annually.

The Carl Couzens Memorial Jug, an exact replica of the famous Claret Jug awarded to the winner of the Open Championship (denoting Carl’s love of golf as well as football) will now become one of the most sought after trophies by our refereeing fraternity.

This will be on show at the AGM and personally handed over by Carl’s parents to the member the Association’s committee have considered has upheld the highest standards of refereeing, helped and monitored younger colleagues and has been prepared to go that extra mile in everything he has undertaken. In other words “an unsung hero.”  This presentation will be made at our September meeting when we shall be delighted to have Carl’s parents with us for the evening. The winner will also receive a miniature of the claret jug.

You can see how much the Claret Jug meant to Padraig Harrington as he defended his Open Golf Championship title at Royal Birkdale. Carl Couzens loved his golf too ... and his parents will be awarding a replica jug to an Association "unsung hero" later this year. The trophy will be on show at the AGM.

The Bill Jones Memorial Award will be presented at the AGM. This goes to the member the Committee feel has given exemplary service in forwarding the work and ideals of the Association both on and off the field. The winner will also receive a small replica trophy as a constant reminder of our gratitude.

This year for the first time, we shall be awarding a new Gold Cup for the best Assistant Referee marked by the League’s assessors. Each assistant considered was assessed over a minimum of five games.

Also for the first time, we have a new Silver Cup for the Most Promising Newcomer. The League has been blessed with a number of first year recruits who have been receiving rave notices for their performances and in this connection we would like to pay tribute to all those who have nurtured them through the county refereeing academies.

The winners of both Gold and Silver Cups will also receive miniatures to keep.

This Association is proud of its members and their achievements and the purchase of these new trophies is intended to reward success. We also view this as a means of helping to maintain the highest standards which have rightly earned us a place among the best refereeing bodies in the country.

Are you up for the Cup? Be sure to be with us on 21 May to find out!

Bill Hamilton
Membership Secretary/Treasurer