The newly-formed Isle of Man Junior Referees Academy will be sponsored by Mann Link Travel.
The Isle of Man Junior Referees Academy was formed to increase the amount of qualified referees on the Island, ensuring there is a healthy number to officiate over games in the future, as well as provide an environment where teenagers are able to undergo specialist training at home.
Eleven juniors, aged between 14 and 18, will participate in a two-year training programme which includes monthly training sessions and attendance at the Isle of Man Referees Society meetings. After being assigned a mentor, they will officiate over junior football matches for their first year, supported by a senior official. They will also be required to attend training at the Liverpool County Academy and other specialist development centres when necessary, and will be given a new kit by Mann Link Travel.
If any of the older juniors go to University during the programme, they will be assigned to their closest UK development centre in order to continue their learning.
Mann Link Travel has also committed its support to the Isle of Man FA by sponsoring one of the advertising boards at The Bowl in Douglas. Sponsorship money will be used by the FA to further develop grass roots football on the Island.
Part of the Online Regional Travel Group, the largest offshore travel Group in the British Isles, Mann Link Travel has a strong history of supporting Manx sport. As well as being sponsors of local golfing and athletic events, the company’s CEO, Brian Kelly, is a Board Member of Ramsey Football Club, having played for the Club for 27 years. His son, Jordan, now plays for Ramsey’s first team and for the Island’s Under 18 Team.
Brian commented: “If you don’t have a referee, you don’t have a football match and so I am delighted that Mann Link Travel is able to play a part in helping to secure the long-term provision of young referees in the Manx game. I am a huge supporter of local football and now that I’ve hung up my boots, it is great to be able to watch my son playing weekly. I believe it’s vital that, wherever possible, we provide young people on the Island with specialist training to help with their career development, and this initiative is an excellent example of that.”
Tommy Crowe, Referee Development Officer for the Isle of Man, said: “Without the support of Mann Link Travel, the Isle of Man Junior Referees Academy would not be able to run this training programme and give these youngsters the chance to develop along their chosen sporting path. Giving junior referees the chance to complete their education programme here on the Island is a fantastic thing, and will really strengthen the provision of Manx officials for years to come. Who knows, we may even see some of them refereeing in the Premiership in the future!”
Photo (l-r) Aaron Gillespie and Jake Garvey – Junior Referees, Gerry Thomson, Mark Thomas, Tommy Crowe, Billy Crowe – Isle of Man Junior Referee Development representatives, Frank Stennett – CEO of the Isle of Man FA, Brian Kelly – Chief Executive of Mann Link Travel, Ben Harding and Ben Evans – Junior Referees. Junior Referees not pictured – Gemma Kirkham, Megan Harris, Lydia Shaw, James Lowey and James Cherry. The final two junior referees will be named imminently.
