The Football Association of Ireland today announced that Ian Stokes, eircom League and FIFA Referee, has been selected by UEFA to participate in their ‘Talents’ programme. This programme identifies the top young international officials from around Europe and places them on an intensive two year mentoring programme. It is a great achievement for Ian, who is a graduate of the FAI’s School of Excellence Programme. Ian is delighted that UEFA have selected him for the programme.
"The Talent Programme is a fantastic opportunity to advance at a pace that would not normally have been possible, although progression is not guaranteed. Regular UEFA appointments together with intensive coaching and guidance are benefits that can only improve my refereeing skills together with those of my colleagues who will assist me on these appointments,” said Mr Stokes.
“I am also looking forward to working with my mentor Karl-Erik Nilsson from Sweden and to learning from his vast knowledge and experience. It has been a very positive start to the year as I have recently been upgraded to Grade 3 in the UEFA rankings and I look forward to applying myself to the challenges that the new grade and the Talent Programme have to offer," he concluded.
Meanwhile Alan Kelly has recently been upgraded to a Grade 2 UEFA referee, which will see him officiate at matches of increasing importance in 2005. He puts much of his success in Europe down to his participation in the mentoring scheme, where he spent his final year under the tutelage of Peter Jones, former FIFA and FA Cup Final Referee.
In other news, with UEFA’s encouragement, the FAI has been working hard on a Referee Exchange Programme with the IFA and the Scottish FA. Indeed this week sees history being made as Scottish referee, Brian Winter, takes charge of the Cork City v Drogheda Utd game in Turners Cross.
In exchange, Neil Doyle will be relishing the opportunity to officiate in Hampden Park, Glasgow, for the Scottish League game Queens Park v Elgin City. Later this month Paul Tuite will travel to Northern Ireland to referee the Newry v Lisburn Distillery game in the Irish League. Pat Kelly, (Manager Referees Department), believes that this experience will be of huge benefit to up-and-coming referees, giving them the opportunity to referee clubs from a different Association in unfamiliar surrounds. This experience will benefit them greatly if they progress to the FIFA list in future years, and is further aid to the Association in developing the elite referees panel.
19/04/2005, 2:48 PM
Éanna
the mind boggles. it really does. Stokes is doing his level best to trump Jimmy O'Neill as the worst ref in the league :mad:
19/04/2005, 3:11 PM
Troy.McClure
Good God! Im stunned! Dont know what to say.
19/04/2005, 3:20 PM
derm
I'm absolutely delighted! The more training and mentoring that muppet receives the better!
Interesting about the ref's exchange programme - I hope to god we don't end up appreciating what we have!! :eek:
19/04/2005, 3:27 PM
Longfordian
Can Buttimer be sent somewhere too..somewhere far far away.. please..?
22/04/2005, 11:39 AM
town73
I think Damien Hancock was vying for the worst ref accolade at Flancare last night. At times, I thought he was making up the rules as he was going along. His linesman was having a shocker as well. :mad:
Anyway it got us talking about great one-liners/heckles by supporters at refs. My mate told me about this game where the ref was having a nightmare and a supporter shouted in at the ref: "Aw, c'mon referee. Wake up. You're missing a great game!" :D
22/04/2005, 11:56 AM
Shelsman
Lads, with all this negative feedback on refs, it seems ye think there never are / were any good refs in the country ( world? ).
22/04/2005, 12:00 PM
Longfordian
Alan Kelly isn't too bad whenever he refs us, at least you can understand where he's coming from. Declan Hanney reffed us recently too and wasn't too bad either.
