The History of Aberdare Valley Referee Society
1914/15
Again, no Welsh societies are recorded, and only 3 Direct Members:
J.G. Harvard of Aberdare was joined by A. Shallcross of Ebbw Vale, W.H.Richards of Merthyr Vale.
Our Society is Born February 1933
The first record of a 'new branch starting in Aberdare'
October 1933
Referee Association in Aberdare rises to 15 members
June 1935
Aberdare, as well as Swansea fail to send representatives to a central meeting, the reason for the absence was believed to be the result of an election in 1934 meeting.
February 1949
"....in the ABERDARE VALLEY the new branch has started (reformed) excellently".
March 1949
Guest speaker Mr Burt Hinton speaks to the Aberdare Valley Society.
"In the ABERDARE VALLEY Society the address of Mr. Hinton held rapt attention and enthusiasm"
Aberdare Valley Society hosts a quiz against Merthyr Society
March 1957
From Aberdare (The Welsh Referees’ Union) came the suggestion that a Western Division be formed.
January 1998
Steve Hames becomes the first person from Aberdare to gain International status by becoming a FIFA Assistant Referee
March 2000
Steve Hames referees England School Boys v Hungary School Boys at Wembley.
May 2000
Society members Dave Starling and Roger Fisher officiate in the English Schools FA Cup Final. The game between Cardiff Schools and Salford Schools is a two legged affair, with the first game being played at Cardiff City's Ninian Park and the second leg played at Old Trafford, home of Manchester United.
April 2008
Steve Hames is appointed assistant referee for England School Boys v Scotland School Boys. The game takes place at the new Wembley Stadium and is refereed by Howard Webb.
August 2008
Richard Harrington is promoted to the Welsh Premier League Assistant Referee List
January 2009
Aberdare Valley Referees Society host a meeting where guest speaker is English Premier League Referee Howard Webb. The meeting is attended by over 100 people as Howard gives his report on EURO 2008 where he Refereed as England's Representative. The meeting was held at The Michael Sobbell Sports Centre.
August 2009
Kris Hames is promoted to the Welsh Premier League Assistant Referee List.
January 2011
Aberdare Valley Referees Society again welcomes Howard Webb to Aberdare. Over 150 people are in attendance to hear about Howard's experience at the 2010 World Cup, where he Refereed the Final between Spain and Holland. He also Refereed the 2010 Uefa Champions League Final between Inter Milan and Bayern Munich played in Madrid. The meeting was held at The Michael Sobbell Sports Centre.
July 2011
Aberdare Valley Referee Society is now to be known as Aberdare Referees Society and a new badge is designed by season sponsors White Dot Media.
Duncan Lewis is awarded Senior Referee of The Year Award
Daniel Ingram gets Junior Referee of The Year
Lewiss Edwards is awarded Assistant Referee of the Year
Roger Fisher is awarded for his service of 30 years to refereeing.
August 2011
Richard Harrington is promoted to the Welsh Premier League Referee Talent List and Lewiss Edwards is promoted to the Welsh Premier League Assistant Referee List.
Richard Harrington, Kris Hames and Lewiss Edwards being on the Welsh Premier League means that this is the first time Aberdare has had three officials serving on the National League.
November 2011
Steve Hames and Lewiss Edwards are elected by the FAW to go to Belfast, Northern Ireland as part of the Referee Exchange Scheme. They are appointed to Glenavon v Portadown in the Northern Ireland Carling Premiership. Bryn Markham Jones of Wrexham is the Referee with Gareth Wyn Jones of Bontnewydd is Assistant Referee along with Lewiss Edwards and Steve Hames as Referee Coach.
December 2011 Over 50 people gather on the 18th December 2011 at Aberaman Athletic FC for our annual Christmas Quiz. This is the societies best supported quiz ever and a real sign that the society is going in the right direction. The quiz is won by the team Redstar which consists of society members Duncan Lewis, Alun Thomas, Ian Thornton and Wayne Holder.
February 2012
Richard Harrington is picked to train with the English Premier League Referee's at their base in Warwick University. He was joined by North Wales Referee Mark Petch. The duo are joined at Warwick with FAW Referee's Manager Rodger Gifford.
March 2012
Richard Harrington is next on the referee exchange. He goes to Belfast with delegate Craig Greenstock of Pontypridd Society. He referees Ballymena United v Dungannon Swifts.
April 2012
Kris Hames referees the FAW Youth Cup Final between Swansea City and TNS at Airbus FC.
May 2012
Society duo Kris Hames and Richard Harrington are both promoted to level 2 and 1 respectively, meaning for the first time ever Aberdare has 2 referees on the Welsh Premier League.
July 2012
Kris Hames is awarded Senior Referee of The Year Award
John Bryant gets Junior Referee of The Year
Lewiss Edwards is awarded Assistant Referee of the Year for the second successive year
September 2012
Richard Harrington and Lewiss Edwards go to Malta on the FAWs first domestic exchange between the countries. Bryn Markham Jones and Daniel Beckett also go on the trip.
November 2012
Steve Hames becomes National Assistant Referee Coach
January 2013
Charlotte Carpenter makes history and becomes the societies first female member. 'Charlie' passes her referee exam in 2012 and starts her refereeing career at Cardiff City Academy.
January 2013
Howard Webb visits Aberdare for the 3rd time and completes his 'hattrick'.
Howard speaks to over 120 people at Aberdare Sports Centre about his experience at EURO 2012 where he was England,s Representative.
To show our appreciation Howard Webb is made the societies first Honarary Life Member.
Again, no Welsh societies are recorded, and only 3 Direct Members:
J.G. Harvard of Aberdare was joined by A. Shallcross of Ebbw Vale, W.H.Richards of Merthyr Vale.
Our Society is Born February 1933
The first record of a 'new branch starting in Aberdare'
October 1933
Referee Association in Aberdare rises to 15 members
June 1935
Aberdare, as well as Swansea fail to send representatives to a central meeting, the reason for the absence was believed to be the result of an election in 1934 meeting.
February 1949
"....in the ABERDARE VALLEY the new branch has started (reformed) excellently".
March 1949
Guest speaker Mr Burt Hinton speaks to the Aberdare Valley Society.
"In the ABERDARE VALLEY Society the address of Mr. Hinton held rapt attention and enthusiasm"
Aberdare Valley Society hosts a quiz against Merthyr Society
March 1957
From Aberdare (The Welsh Referees’ Union) came the suggestion that a Western Division be formed.
January 1998
Steve Hames becomes the first person from Aberdare to gain International status by becoming a FIFA Assistant Referee
March 2000
Steve Hames referees England School Boys v Hungary School Boys at Wembley.
May 2000
Society members Dave Starling and Roger Fisher officiate in the English Schools FA Cup Final. The game between Cardiff Schools and Salford Schools is a two legged affair, with the first game being played at Cardiff City's Ninian Park and the second leg played at Old Trafford, home of Manchester United.
April 2008
Steve Hames is appointed assistant referee for England School Boys v Scotland School Boys. The game takes place at the new Wembley Stadium and is refereed by Howard Webb.
August 2008
Richard Harrington is promoted to the Welsh Premier League Assistant Referee List
January 2009
Aberdare Valley Referees Society host a meeting where guest speaker is English Premier League Referee Howard Webb. The meeting is attended by over 100 people as Howard gives his report on EURO 2008 where he Refereed as England's Representative. The meeting was held at The Michael Sobbell Sports Centre.
August 2009
Kris Hames is promoted to the Welsh Premier League Assistant Referee List.
January 2011
Aberdare Valley Referees Society again welcomes Howard Webb to Aberdare. Over 150 people are in attendance to hear about Howard's experience at the 2010 World Cup, where he Refereed the Final between Spain and Holland. He also Refereed the 2010 Uefa Champions League Final between Inter Milan and Bayern Munich played in Madrid. The meeting was held at The Michael Sobbell Sports Centre.
July 2011
Aberdare Valley Referee Society is now to be known as Aberdare Referees Society and a new badge is designed by season sponsors White Dot Media.
Duncan Lewis is awarded Senior Referee of The Year Award
Daniel Ingram gets Junior Referee of The Year
Lewiss Edwards is awarded Assistant Referee of the Year
Roger Fisher is awarded for his service of 30 years to refereeing.
August 2011
Richard Harrington is promoted to the Welsh Premier League Referee Talent List and Lewiss Edwards is promoted to the Welsh Premier League Assistant Referee List.
Richard Harrington, Kris Hames and Lewiss Edwards being on the Welsh Premier League means that this is the first time Aberdare has had three officials serving on the National League.
November 2011
Steve Hames and Lewiss Edwards are elected by the FAW to go to Belfast, Northern Ireland as part of the Referee Exchange Scheme. They are appointed to Glenavon v Portadown in the Northern Ireland Carling Premiership. Bryn Markham Jones of Wrexham is the Referee with Gareth Wyn Jones of Bontnewydd is Assistant Referee along with Lewiss Edwards and Steve Hames as Referee Coach.
December 2011 Over 50 people gather on the 18th December 2011 at Aberaman Athletic FC for our annual Christmas Quiz. This is the societies best supported quiz ever and a real sign that the society is going in the right direction. The quiz is won by the team Redstar which consists of society members Duncan Lewis, Alun Thomas, Ian Thornton and Wayne Holder.
February 2012
Richard Harrington is picked to train with the English Premier League Referee's at their base in Warwick University. He was joined by North Wales Referee Mark Petch. The duo are joined at Warwick with FAW Referee's Manager Rodger Gifford.
March 2012
Richard Harrington is next on the referee exchange. He goes to Belfast with delegate Craig Greenstock of Pontypridd Society. He referees Ballymena United v Dungannon Swifts.
April 2012
Kris Hames referees the FAW Youth Cup Final between Swansea City and TNS at Airbus FC.
May 2012
Society duo Kris Hames and Richard Harrington are both promoted to level 2 and 1 respectively, meaning for the first time ever Aberdare has 2 referees on the Welsh Premier League.
July 2012
Kris Hames is awarded Senior Referee of The Year Award
John Bryant gets Junior Referee of The Year
Lewiss Edwards is awarded Assistant Referee of the Year for the second successive year
September 2012
Richard Harrington and Lewiss Edwards go to Malta on the FAWs first domestic exchange between the countries. Bryn Markham Jones and Daniel Beckett also go on the trip.
November 2012
Steve Hames becomes National Assistant Referee Coach
January 2013
Charlotte Carpenter makes history and becomes the societies first female member. 'Charlie' passes her referee exam in 2012 and starts her refereeing career at Cardiff City Academy.
January 2013
Howard Webb visits Aberdare for the 3rd time and completes his 'hattrick'.
Howard speaks to over 120 people at Aberdare Sports Centre about his experience at EURO 2012 where he was England,s Representative.
To show our appreciation Howard Webb is made the societies first Honarary Life Member.