History of the Society

The Early Days

 Once football at the lowest levels was re-established following World War II, interest in playing the game rapidly mushroomed throughout the country.

 However in those days live entertainment or organised recreation on a Sunday was banned and the Lords Day Observance Society were adamant that it should remain so.

Unofficial football matches on a Sunday came about to meet the needs of young men who wanted to play the game but had to work on Saturdays.

 Unsanctioned leagues were formed which were immediately presented with problems of arranging referees. Registered referees were of course, then as now, barred from participating in unsanctioned football. In Liverpool the problem could only be solved by finding a group of referees who were prepared to take on roles of ‘pirate’ referees who often used aliases to avoid the wrath of the Liverpool County F.A.

 Liverpool’s band of ‘pirates’ referees met frequently at various hostelries and in 1949 formed the nucleus of our present Society.

      The Liverpool Sunday Football Referees Society Formed

 In the early fifties the Society made its permanent headquarters at the N.U.R. No. 5 Club.

 Many changes have taken place since, the most noteworthy of which being the decision in 1966 to affiliate the Society to The Referees’ Association. Within the guidelines of The R.A., a firm constitution for Society membership was set down.

 Founders of the Society Jack McLoughlin, Bill Reynolds, Tom Moorcroft and Timmy Clisham were awarded life membership of the Society and Jack McLoughlin was invited to become the Society’s first President.     Society's Headquarters

 After thirty years at the N.U.R Club, the Society has made several changes of headquarters. First moving to Crawford’s Social Club and C.A.D.W.A. S.C.

 Our move to the N.A.L.G.O. Sports & Social Club, in Alder Road was felt by many of our members as an ideal location. Sadly in May 2004 a fire totally destroyed the building, which meant the Society making a temporary move to M.A.N.W.E.B. S.C. which became our home until the end of 2005 when we were able to return to the newly rebuilt club which was renamed The Alder Sports & Social Club.     Society's Honours and Successes  

Four Society members, Peter Suter, John Thornhill, David Ross and Wally Old together with other members of the Liverpool County Area Committee of the Referees’ Association, organised and brought The R.A.’s Annual Conference to the city of Liverpool in 1977 for the first time in its history.

 This was surpassed in 1993 when five members of the Society’s Committee, Brian Doran, Frank Jeffers, Keith Jones, Wally Old and Derek Smith formed a Conference Committee to bring the R.A. Conference to Liverpool for a second time. The five together with Jim Smith and Keith Jones have also been honoured with the R.A.’s Long and Meritorious Service Award.

 The Society is fortunate in having one Senior F.A. Licensed Instructor (Steve Stewart), five qualified F.A. Licensed Instructor (Bruce Dixon, John Harrison, Keith Jones, Dave Kirby, Graham Speed) and one F.A. Registered Instructors (Jim Smith) so consequently a regular coaching programme is part of the Society meetings format.

 Members Ken Candler and John Harrison have both served lengthy terms in the post of Liverpool County F.A. Referees’ Liaison Officer.

 The Society members regularly take art in area quizzes and five-a-side tournaments, which enhances the friendship with other Societies in the area and further afield.

 Society members can be proud of the fact that from its humble beginnings back in 1949, thanks to the hard work of its Committees over the years, the Society has flourished to become on of the strongest and most respected in the country. For the season 2006-2007, our Society is strong of 53 members.

Welcome to the Liverpool Sunday Referees' Society web site. Meetings are held at the Alder Sports Centre (Alder Road, L12 2AY) on the last Thursday of the month. Meetings commence at 20h00. All members and non-members are welcome. From Queens Drive, turn onto Alder Road. Alder Sports Centre is on your left.

Meetings, are informal social occasions where we discuss all aspects of football and refereeing over a chat and a drink. At meetings we have a guest speaker and 10 minutes slot where members can present a topic to the audience, we also have an open-forum to give the opportunity to members to ask for advice.

We are members of the Referee's Association and are affiliated to Liverpol County Football Association. We usually have around 50 members each season from all standards of refereeing. We currently have members who officiate on Contributory Leagues, the Liverpool County FA Premier League, and other local Leagues. Liverpool Sunday Referees' Society are a member of the Referees Association.