THE Guernsey Football Association is going on the road to find new referees. At the weekend the GFA’s head of refereeing Graham Skuse is taking an FA roadshow to Safeway and to the Market Square in a bid to recruit new officials.

‘While I’m not desperately short I need some at a mature age to keep my age bands running together,’ said Skuse.

‘I’ve got youngsters coming through and doing very well but I’ll be losing a couple to further education pretty soon. I’m looking for mature people, ex-players wanting to put something back into the game.

‘Ian Drillot, Neil Lunn, Colin Wherry and Brent Blondel – they made the move from playing and became very successful. It’s an extension to your football career.

‘They can get to a higher levels as a referee than they would as a player. I personally was a Railway keeper when the Railway keeper was injured.

‘I went to the top of Channel Islands football. In two years’ time they could be refereeing in Aland at the Island Games.’

Along with ex-players, Skuse is hoping to recruit some female referees as well.

As part of the recruitment drive, the doors to the GFA’s Corbet Field headquarters are open all week for people interested in officiating.

Skuse and the FA stand will be at Safeway on Friday from 10am to 4pm and in the Market Square next to the cafe for the same time on the Saturday.

FA promotional videos are also running in the Fitness Factory, Fletcher Sports and Intersport.

Skuse says that anyone who wants to take it up could be refereeing when the new season starts next month.

There is a new FA training system that fast-tracks trainees.

‘Under the new exam system I could have anyone up and running by mid-August because the system allows you to referee as you go on,’ he said.

‘It’s a practical-based course.’

Skuse also announced that a number of speakers had been booked to come to the island to address local referees. Top official Howard Webb and Keith Hackett, who is the Premiership referees supreme and Uefa instructor, are both due to visit.

The talks get under way on Wednesday 3 October when Alan Wilkie, who in 1995 was the referee at Selhurst Park on the night of the famous Cantona kung fu kick on a Crystal Palace fan, will be speaking about that and other matters. Skuse is also looking for sponsorship to help bring them over.

‘I’m qualified to licensed level, which may sound arrogant but there is only one in the Channel Islands,’ said Skuse.

‘But these are the guys who I learnt from. They are good.’

For more information, contact Skuse on 07781 156719 or 256719 or skusey@cwgsy.net.