SCFL May Newsletter

Pitch perfect

There has been a lot of activity recently on ground improvements, so we take a look at all the hard work that has been going in to improving the matchday experience for all.

Middlezoy Rovers have had a new stand installed, with the help of 70% funding from the Football Foundation.

The Football Foundation supply funding for all sorts of improvements or repairs, such as goalposts, storage containers, floodlights, changing rooms and fencing.

To find out more, visit footballfoundation.org.uk

Ground improvements

The work at Fry continues, with a new perimeter fence installed to enclose the pitch, along with a new pay booth in place.

Great work from all involved at Fry!

Not quite a ground improvement, but Mendip Broadwalk have taken delivery of their new minibus, which will also be available for hire.

The only time they won’t be hoping for three points....

Chili bringing the heat

Chili striker on fire..

May 2024

Chilcompton Sports’ talisman Jed Parfitt has racked up an impressive 35 league goals (so far!), and looks set to be this season’s top scorer.

2nd place Joe Wilkinson of Staplegrove has played all his games, and 3rd place Tom Bell of SGEIC has two games to go to add to his totals.

*Correct as of Sunday 28th April

You are the ref...

A defender fouls an attacker, and the point of contact with the attacker’s leg is on the penalty area line. Is it...

A. Free kick

B. Penalty

Final(s) countdown

With the season drawing to an end, we look forward to the SCFL League Cup Finals. Dates, venues, teams and match officials are all set, so take a look at all the information you need ahead of the games.

Premier/Division One Cup

Nailsea United v Chilcompton Sports

Venue: Cheddar FC BS27 3RL

KO: 1930

Referee: Rob Taylor

Assistant Referee: James Salt

Assistant Referee: Iain Ballinger

4th Official: Justin Cox

Division 2/3 Cup

Imperial v Sporting Weston

Venue: Bishop Sutton BS39 5XN

KO: 1930

Referee: Dean Wheatley

Assistant Referee: Rob Bunker

Assistant Referee: Mike Richards

4th Official: Chris Butland

Ticket info for both games:

Adults

£5

Concessions

£3

Under 12 go free

Programmes £1

Canyouguessthegroundfromthedugoutsbelow?

Premier Division Champions

No ‘Dip’ in form

May 2024

Mendip Broadwalk overcame Wells City Reserves on 27th April 2-1 to secure the Premier Division title with two games to spare. Goals from Rhys Hickery and Seb Williams in the first half were enough to get all three points in another away game for Mendip.

Congratulations from all at the SCFL and we wish you all the best for next season.

Division One Champions

Grove in the groove

Staplegrove clinched the Division One title with a 3-1 win over Watchet Town. Watchet, who are also guaranteed promotion, had already beaten Staplegrove just a month earlier, so Staplegrove were up against it.

Three first half goals from Joe Wilkinson, Will Bidgeway and Mario Franco secured the points in a feisty game that saw 6 yellow cards, 2 sin bins and 2 red cards!

Congratulations on promotion and winning the league, all the best for the Premier Division next season.

Division Two - all 2 play for

To the wire!

May 2024

Division Two is a lot tighter, with Imperial and Glastonbury already promoted, and any others in the top 8 can clinch that last spot. The race for the title is going to the wire too, with Imperial currently top, but Glastonbury are 3pts behind with a game in hand. The Imp’s goal difference is far superior, so The Dollies will be hoping Imperial slip up in their remaining three fixtures.

Out of the other six teams, Cutters Friday look in best place to get the thrid promotion place, but anything can happen! Congresbury have the most games yet to play with 6 remaining (as of 01/05), so Congresbury v Cutters Friday scheduled for 6th May could be a huge game for both teams!

Division Three Champions

Sporting silverware

May 2024

Sporting Weston overcame a struggling Somerton Reserves side with a comfortable 8-0 win away from home to earn the title. Fellow promotion chasers Nailsea United Reserves delayed Sporting’s celebrations by a few days with a 2-1 victory, dealing Sporting their second loss of the season.

SWFC lost 4-1 to a strong Premier Division side in Wells City Reserves in the Somerset FA Men’s Senior Cup Final played at Paulton Rovers on 30th April. Sporting now look forward to their second Final, playing Division Two leaders Imperial at Bishop Sutton on 14th May.

The final two places are still up for grabs, with St George EIG 3pts ahead of the next two teams, Peasedown Albion and Nailsea United Reserves.

SGEIG play Peasedown Albion on 11th May, which could prove to be a decider.

Nailsea United Reserves play Sporting Weston on Bank Holiday Monday, and will be hoping to repeat their recent success over the Champions of Division Three.

Ian Madge - half century and not out

May

2024

50 years’ service (and rising!)

We speak to SCFL referee Ian Madge about his incredible 50 years’ service to football

Ian passed his referees exam with Essex FA in 1972 but moving 2 miles into Hertfordshire he was asked to retake the exam on 4 May 1974 by Hertfordshire FA. He moved to North Somerset two years later in 1976. This season is Ian’s 50th (evidenced based) refereeing, spending 47 of those in the Somerset County League and the Weston-super-Mare & District League, keeping a database of his appointments.

Throughout his career, Ian has refereed on seven Somerset FA County Cup Finals;

• Intermediate Cup Final 1981/2 and 1989/9

• Junior Cup Final 1986/7 and 1996/7

• Senior Cup Final 1990/1

• Premier Cup Final 1992/3 (2 legs in those days)

• Durnford Cup Final 2005/6

He was also Assistant Referee on the 2017/8 Intermediate Cup Final. and will be 4th Official on the Lewin Cup Final this season. Ian refereed the Western League Cup Final between Tiverton and Barnstaple in 1996.

In addition to refereeing in Grassroots football, Ian has also been an assistant referee in the Football League (and also in the inaugural year of the Premier League) between 1989 and 1996. At that time there was an age limit of 44 for assistant referees at that level.

Photo from 2018 refereeing his 2000th game at Hengrove.

Ian Madge - half century and not out (contnd)

May 2024

He acted as assistant referee in 2 Anglo Italian games played in Ancona and Ascoli.

As a referee he achieved the equivalent level of the current 2A refereeing on the National League and Football Combination, and also served as an assessor for the FA and PGMOL and as a mentor for referees.

He has been a member of the Referees Association for over 50 years as a member of the East Herts, Weston Super Mare Referees (Chairman for 9 years) Society’s and as a direct member. Ian was also Chairman of the Western League Referees and Linesmen Association and Chairman of the South West Panel Leagues Referees and Linesman Association.

In April 2021, Ian had a triple heart bypass operation six days after refereeing a grassroots game at Cheddar. He was able to return to refereeing 5 months after the major surgery.

He has now been a match official on over 2200 games.

Photo from 1999, Ian with Tony Jackson (left) and current CEO of Dorset FA Roger Vaughan (right) refereeing at Wembley Stadium

A matter of Respect

PREMIER DIVISION PREMIER DIVISION

DIVISION ONE DIVISION ONE

DIVISION TWO DIVISION TWO

DIVISION THREE DIVISION THREE

SCFL AGM

The Annual General Meeting of Somerset County Football League Ltd and Uhlsport Somerset County Football League will take place on Monday, 3rd of June 2024 commencing at 7:30 pm.

The AGM will take place at the Canalside Conference Centre, Marsh Lane, Bridgwater TA6 6LQ and all clubs must be represented. I would suggest that Clubs nominate two people to attend so that if one person is unable to make it then the other can represent the club.

Details of the agenda will be forwarded to all Club secretaries, together with other paperwork in mid May.

You are the ref...

As the incident happened on the Penalty Area line, this counts as part of the Penalty Area, so the outcome would be a penalty.

Fry mascot day

Small Frys

May 2024

Fry Club invited their U11 team to be mascots for their final home game of the season, which saw Fry Club overcome a resilient Chard Town 3-2. We hope they enjoyed the occasion!