Jack, 11, dreams of being a ref (From Free Press Series)

Jack, 11, dreams of being a ref

8:40am Friday 2nd October 2009

• Print
• Email
• Share
• Comments(0)

MOST boys starting out at high school still dream of making it as a professional footballer.

But Jack Clark, just 11-years-old, has his sights set on a career as a referee instead. He has this summer passed his FA officials' course and could be the youngest qualified ref in the UK.

Jack, from Garndiffiath, has just moved up to Abersychan Comprehensive. He is a county standard player in his own right but this weekend will officiate his first game – an under-nines match – at his own Fairfield United Juniors AFC.

Club coach Mark Broom explained: "Jack plays for my under-12s side but a while ago he just said to his father that he wants to become a referee. It’s quite unusual for a lad his age – a lot of adults don’t fancy the job what with all the abuse they get.

"But we enrolled him on a course and now he’s a fully fledged referee able to take charge of any game up to his own age group."

Broom believes Jack may be the youngest ref in Wales, and possibly the UK, and has contacted the Referees’ Association to check. Either way, Jack has himself a new all-black kit and is ready to make his officiating debut this weekend.

Broom said: "At youth level the boys just play friendlies and normally the coaches just act as referees but we can now provide a fully-qualified referee. His first game will be on Sunday and although he’s young and we’ll have to keep an eye on him and monitor his progress I don’t envisage any problems.

"I hope most of the other sides will be encouraged by the fact a young lad wants to take up refereeing and will respect the fact he’s already passed his qualifications unlike the older coaches who other sides will be using when we play away."

Fairfield Juniors was only set up in 2003 with a single under-sevens side. And while the senior squad has won silverware in the Gwent Central League, the youngest have expanded to five teams ranging from under-sevens to -12s.

Three players have moved on to train with Cardiff City’s academy and others have represented Torfaen County Borough.

• Print
• Email
• Share
• Comments(0)