JOHN NETTLETON LIFTS THE CLARET JUG
Emotional evening as Carl Couzens' parents hand over the memorial trophy

Bedfordshire referee John Nettleton, from Barton-le-Clay, is the first holder of the magnificent Carl Couzens Memorial Jug. The Association’s September meeting turned into an emotional evening as Carl’s parents, Ian and Anita, handed over the trophy to John, an official whom the committee felt had done so much to uphold the standards set by Carl during his rise through the ranks of the Spartan South Midlands League.

John Nettleton (right) receives the Carl Couzens Memorial Trophy
from Carl's parents Ian & Anita

The award was due to have been made at the AGM last May but John had been on holiday and the presentation had to be held back for several months. It had been a tightly-held secret but the sustained applause indicated the committee’s choice had been a very popular one. They had been anxious to ensure that the award went not just to a highly respected referee but to one who helped and monitored younger colleagues who will be the top officials of tomorrow. John, they felt, was always prepared to go that extra mile in everything he had undertaken. In other words, he was an ‘unsung hero.’

Ian and Anita had driven south from Hitchin and insisted in staying the whole evening, listening to the Association business and the excellent presentation by our speaker, Football League referee, Mike Russell from St Albans. On behalf of the Association, Eric Harrison and Peter Hazel handed over a flowering begonia plant in ceramic pot to Anita and another for Carl’s sister Nicola who was unable to be present but has expressed her wish to come to next year’s presentation. Ian Couzens was presented with a box of golf balls. Carl himself was a keen golfer and the trophy is a replica of the Claret Jug presented each year to the winner of The Open Golf Championship.

Ian, Anita & John with Association Chairman Mike Taylor

Association members were in the forefront of raising over £3,500 for asthma research conducted by the Imperial College in London and had received a letter of thanks from Mr Fan Chung, the college’s Professor of Respiratory Medicine. Carl succumbed to the disease last year just three weeks short of his 37^th birthday.

This week, I received a letter from Carl’s dad, Ian. In it, he writes: “I would just like to say a big thank you for the wonderful evening you and your colleagues gave us. We felt honoured and wish to pass on our feelings and gratitude to all concerned. It is a magnificent trophy and a great tribute to Carl. Anita and I were very proud of our son and it was obvious that he was very well respected by everyone in your association, not only as a referee but as a person. It goes without saying that we think of him each and every day. It’s a comforting thought knowing he will be remembered by many others, each having his own personal memory of Carl.’

Feelings we would all endorse.

Bill Hamilton

03 October 2009