THE football season is here again following a summer of discontent and the off the field problems concerning Barry Town United and other Welsh League teams, writes TERRY ALLDAY secretary, Vale of Glamorgan Referees' Society.

The dilemmas have continued within the South Wales Football Association county leagues (amateur and senior) where some clubs have ended their aspirations just as the season was about to start.

However, on the local refereeing front things have progressed and three of our members - Dennis Page, Chris Sawyer and Paul Bright - have been promoted to Welsh and County League level. In addition, Andy Matthews has achieved his first promotion to put him in position for promotion to the higher leagues next summer.

With membership increasing, meetings well attended, regular guest speakers, in-house training sessions and an age span of 50 years, the Vale Referees' Society is still moving forward.

However, the promotions do have a negative effect at grassroots level - Vale of Glamorgan League - where there will be less referees each week. So we still encourage anyone who is considering becoming a referee to come along to meet the members and find out what it’s really like! It's likely there will be a referees' course starting around September/October and now is the time to take part.

If your football career is over, it’s a great way of keeping active and involved - even if you only want to participate at grassroots level. Help, advice and assistance are always at hand - more so than at any other time. If you fancy giving it a go, kits can be borrowed so there is no expensive lay-out.

Also, following on from last year's referees' course at Ysgol Gyfun Bro Morgannwg, it’s the ideal opportunity for the younger element to begin refereeing. Again, referees are well looked after and developed. Our liaison officer, Mark Harvey, ensures no-one is appointed to games beyond their experience or capability

Additionally, the Vale Referees' Society has secured sponsorship for the first time in its history. Huge thanks to Mark Barrett, of RIM Motors, for his support and to society member Chris Bowsher for help with obtaining the sponsorship. All members now have match day attire and the VoGRS are pleased to be associated with RIM Motors.

If you feel like putting something back into grassroots football, keeping involved and active, then come along and meet us or take a referees' course - there are always games locally which need referees. Contact us through our website - www.pitchero.com/clubs/valeofglamorganrefereessociety or email vogrs@hotmail.co.uk