OSAmag80

T h e O l d S t a t i o n e r - N o 8 0
OLD FOOTBallers never die,
They just...
Last November, Tony Hemmings was presented with the
Amateur Football Alliance's Long Service Award for 30 years
service as a referee, thus emulating Brian Humphreys, another
Old Stationer to have received this award.
Having kept goal for OSFC since leaving school, Tony retired in
1981 but soon suffered withdrawal symptoms and joined the
squad of 'Club Referees' (Dick Hersey, Keith AlIen, Harry
Wright, Bill Goodacre, Gordon Rose et al) officiating the lower
XIs' home matches. In those days, the Club ran nine teams in
the Southern Amateur League and because the League were
rarely able to appoint referees below the 5th XI, the Club relied
on this squad to cover their remaining home games. After a
while, he decided that managing 22 players as a referee was no
more taxing than facing 11 opponents as a goalkeeper so he took
the referee's course and examination and, once qualified, was
placed on the AFA's referees' register for regular appointments
in their competitions and representative matches. Gradually,
promotions ensued and, in 1990, he became a Class 1 referee.
From that point onwards, opportunities came along to officiate
in higher levels of football and to join the panels of Tottenham
Hotspur, Arsenal and QPR to referee their Youth Academy
matches, as well as the occasional 'plum' invitation, such as
refereeing at both the old and new Wembley Stadiums,
tournaments in 10 other European countries and one in Brazil,
lining to Premiership referees in pre-season friendlies and even
in one testimonial game. Tony continues to remain active,
expecting to do more than 60 games this season, and is looking
forward to a tournament in Spain in May.
A number of OS footballers have gone on to take up the whistle
and Tony is joined in the current crop by former 1st XI players,
Grant Mathias, Pasquale Acierno and Geoff Blackmore, who
officiate in the Ryman and Spartan South Midlands Leagues in
addition to AFA competitions.
Old Stationers' Golf Society
2014 SEASON’S REPORT
Our season started in April with the Pairs Competition. Not
having played previously at Hendon we were pleasantly surprised
by the course despite being it being muddy. The scoring was very
respectable with a remarkable six pairs having identical scores.
After a hiccup, caused by creative completion of scorecards, two
of our associate members, Terry Jackson and Charles Wallis, were
declared winners, shading our Geoff Blackmore and Steve
Presland.
In May we had our now annual match against Old Tollingtonians
at Aldwickbury G.C. We managed to beat them for the first time
in four attempts. The scores for OS counted towards the
Champion Golfer’s Shield, first donated in 1923 by the OSFC.
Colin Walker scored an exceptional 40 points to take an early
lead.
The June event was our match against The Stationers Company
at Theydon Bois G.C.. We lost in 2013 and planned to recapture
the handsome cup (the former Hickledon Cup) this year.
However, two excellent rounds by the Company, one by a former
master, sealed our fate and the company ran out convincing
winners. The course was excellent, and it is suggested that we
re-visit it in 2015.
In July we played Bruce Kitchener’s course – The Bedfordshire.
The reception and the course were excellent and we played the
second round of the Champion Golfer’s Shield. Geoff Blackmore
scored well and took over the lead in this season-long competition.
The away trip in August was at the Weald of Kent, just south of
Maidstone. Whilst offering exceptional value, the accommodation
and catering were very average. The course was very tricky and
not a little frustrating due to ditches on many of the holes
running across the fairways at between 150 and 180 yards – just
sufficient to gobble up the shots of our average golfers!
In September we played the final shield event at Aspley Guise
– one of our favourite courses. Despite having no showers in
operation and playing on recently dressed greens, it was a fine
day in both senses of the word. Sadly Colin Walker, the leading
contender to Geoff Blackmore, could not wrest the lead from
him and Geoff ran out the winner of the Champion Golfer’s
Shield. The individual winner of the day was your Secretary, just
Tony Hemmings receives his 30 years Referees Long Service Award
Team Blackmore starring Steve Presland and Ian Meyrick
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