Corporal Ryan Morris

We are delighted to again have Corporal Ryan Morris, 25, from Stoke on Trent as our match referee.

Ryan joined the Royal Air Force in 2017 and is currently an Officer Cadet in the final term of Initial Officer Training at RAF College Cranwell, Lincolnshire.

Ryan began officer training in June 2022, and his graduation date was on the 3rd of November 2022, just two days ago!

After graduation, Ryan will be a Flying Officer and start his phase 2 training at RAF Shawbury, Shropshire in February.

His previous service included 5 years in the RAF as Air and Space Operations Specialist, in which he was promoted to Corporal in March 2022.

Ryan is a Level 4 match official, whose refereeing highlights include the 2019 RAF most promising referee award.

Ryan is a big supporter of the Jets and manages his schedule to make himself available for our Remembrance games, which we really appreciate. He has also refereed the 2020 Mount Pleasant Combined Services vs Port Stanley XI, Falkland Islands Games, whilst on service in the Falklands.

Ryan is pictured right with our assistant referees Mark Ives and Phil Sharp.

Colin Macdougal

Colin now has over 30 years of experience at playing the bagpipes, has set-up a business performing solo at private and corporate events, and plays with pipe bands at UK and international piping competitions, tattoos, parades and in films/movies.

Colin was a member of the Air Training Corps with 2535 Livingston Squadron reaching the rank of sergeant. www.specialeventspiper.co.uk

Tom Hammond

Tom has supported Jets through our Remembrance games, including the ‘monsoon years’, soldiering on and playing the Last Post and Reveille superbly despite only having the protection of a colleague’s flimsy umbrella.

Tom will be supported by members of the Coldstream Guards who will also supply an escort to the Colour.

Fred Weaving

Fred Weaving will again be taking the salute for the fallen.

Fred is a former Royal Marine Commando of 42 Commando Royal Marines, Rank Corporal. He joined the Marines in March 1959 and served in Malta GC and Borneo.

Fred has served football for many years and has been a constant and loyal friend and adviser to Oxhey Jets. He is still an active referee assessor on a number of leagues including the league Jets play in, the Combined Counties Premier North.

We are proud to have Fred as our friend, we thank him for his ongoing commitment and support to our club, and for taking the salute again for us today. Fred is a brilliant friend.

Phil first played football for Livingstone School but became a referee via the Duke of Edinburgh’s Award Scheme in order to fulfil the Service in the Community component. He gained his apprenticeship through the Hertfordshire County League before gaining promotion onto the Southern Football League middle from where he was promoted to Panel Referee for two seasons before being promoted as an Assistant Referee to the Football League and, finally, the Premier League. He was selected to run the line at the 1999 FA Cup Final.

Phil was promoted to the FIFA list of match officials in 1997. His progression was exceptional, holding the flag in the opening game and semi-final of the 2000 European Championship.

In the 2002 FIFA World Cup Phil was appointed to five games, including the Croatia v Italy match and the final between Germany and Brazil. As such he was England’s second successive match official at a Final match and represented England at the 2006 FIFA World Cup in Germany.

He now works for the Hertfordshire FA as the Referee Development Officer.

Mark Ives is a former National List Official having spent 9 years as an Assistant Referee on the Football League having progressed through the Herts Senior County League. He was a former Level 2 Referee and refereed on the Football Conference. Mark has links to both organisations today. A Chief Executive of the Hertfordshire FA from 1995 to 2001 he also spent 12 years in the Army, having spent time in Germany, Kenya, the Falkland Islands (and he lays our wreath today for those who died in the Falklands War) and Northern Ireland. From 2001, Mark spent 19 years with The FA, as the Head of their Judicial Dept. He is now the General Manager of the National League and a Director of Administration with Huntingdonshire FA.

Mark has been a good friend of the Jets for many years and is extremely honoured to be asked to be an assistant referee again today, and to lay a wreath, as his Military Service plays a big part of his life.

Andrew Blackwood

Safer Neighbourhood Team Sergeant

Oxhey Police Station

Hertfordshire Constabulary

Thank you for the opportunity to speak to the community from today’s programme. Having been in charge at Oxhey Police station for just over a year now I have tried to get involved wherever possible to reach the residents of Oxhey.

I wanted to join the local team as I have always admired the community spirit here and wanted to be a small part of that. I admire the many opportunities open to young people to enjoy physical sport in the area, this is exemplified by the club, a hub that provides positive role models and encourages contributions to the local community.

My colleague Luke Mitchell represented Hertfordshire Constabulary last year having served as the local Sergeant for four years before taking up the role of community safety Sergeant and now as Police Federation local branch chairman.

I was honoured to be invited last year to the event here at Jets and admire all the hard work John puts into the club and his dedication to community and service, both on display at the club today.

Please come and say hello to myself or one of the team who will be at the club.