The death has occured of Kay Hogan, mother of our esteemed colleague Mark. Reposing at Browne’s Funeral Home, Enniscorthy tomorrow (Saturday) from 4pm to 7pm and on Sunday from 4pm to 7pm. Removal from Browne’s Funeral Home on Monday morning at 11.30am to St. Aidan’s Cathedral arriving for Funeral Mass at 12 noon. Burial afterwards in St. Mary’s Cemetery. Family flowers only please. Donations, if desired, to The Oncology Unit or Wexford Hospice Homecare.

We extend our deepest sympathies to Mark and family.

The results from the recent national FAI draw can be viewed by clicking the link below. Congratulations to all the winners and thanks to all who supported the draw.

FAI National Draw Winners

We regret to inform you of the death of Dennis o Brien, Father of our friend and colleague Brendan. Removal on Wednesday evening to Rowe St church at 6-30pm. Funeral mass on Thursday at morning at 12pm followed by burial afterwards in St Ibars Cemetery, Crosstown.

May he Rest in Peace.

The branch would like to offer our condolences to our colleague David Jenkins on the sad passing of his Mother, Bridget. The funeral arrangements for Mrs Bridget Jenkins are as follows… Reposing in McGulls funeral home (Monday) at Bennekerry, Co. Carlow beside Palatine GAA Grounds. Funeral mass on Tuesday at Staplestown Church at 2pm followed by burial afterwards in St Marys Cemetery, Carlow Town.

May she Rest in Peace.

The first Branch meeting of the year takes place on Monday August 26th in the Talbot hotel at 7-30 pm. This is an important meeting and all members are requested to attend as the new rules will be top of the agenda. Membership fees (or part) are also due. Dress code as usual please. Best of luck to all members for the coming season.

Wexford assistant referee Michelle O’Neill will run the line as part of the first female team to take charge of a major men’s European final in the UEFA Super Cup between Liverpool and Chelsea later this month.

The game, which pits the UEFA Champions League holders against the winners of the UEFA Europa League, is seen as a curtain-raiser to the new football season.

O’Neill referees in the FAI Continental Tyres Women’s National League and is an assistant ref in the SSE Airtricity League.

She will again assist match referee Stéphanie Frappart, as she did in the women’s World Cup final between the USA and the Netherlands, at Beşiktaş Park in Istanbul on 14 August.

Manuela Nicolosi of France will be the other assistant referee while Turkish man Cuneyt Cakir is the fourth official.

“I have said on many occasions that the potential for women’s football has no limits and I am delighted that Stéphanie Frappart has been appointed to officiate at this year’s UEFA Super Cup along with assistant referees Manuela Nicolosi and Michelle O’Neil,” said UEFA President Aleksander Čeferin.

“As an organisation, we place the utmost importance on the development of women’s football in all areas. I hope the skill and devotion that Stéphanie has shown throughout her career to reach this level will provide inspiration to millions of girls and women around Europe and show them there should be no barriers in order to reach one’s dream.”

UEFA chief refereeing officer Roberto Rosetti praised Frappart’s ability as an official and said she “fully deserves” the opportunity to oversee such a high-profile fixture.

“Stéphanie has proved over a number of years that she is one of the best female referees, not just in Europe but across the world,” said Rosetti.

“She has the ability to officiate on the biggest stage, as she proved at this year’s Women’s World Cup final. I hope this match in Istanbul will provide her with yet more experience as she enters the prime of her refereeing career.”

Frappart created history domestically in France when she became the first female referee to officiate a Ligue 1 match, between SC Amiens and RC Strasbourg in April. She has been promoted to join the pool of Ligue 1 referee on a permanent basis for the 2019/20 season.

However, the 35-year-old Frappart is not the first female referee assigned to a men’s UEFA competition match. That was Switzerland’s Nicole Petignat who refereed three UEFA Cup qualifying round games between 2004 and 2009.

EURO 2020 is coming to Ireland next year as we’ve won the rights to host 4 games at the Aviva Stadium. For such a large event we’ll need lots of volunteers, and with nearly 300 volunteer interviews already completed, our recruitment campaign is well under way.

As you know, football would be nothing in this country without the volunteers who put in the hours throughout our leagues and clubs around the country.

The commitment and enthusiasm from everyone involved in football in Ireland is exactly the type of thing we want to showcase at EURO 2020 next year, when the eyes of the world are on Dublin.

Therefore, we’re encouraging you, T.J., as the Secretary of the Irish Soccer Referees Society, to help get the football family involved in EURO 2020.

Please spread the word throughout all the clubs and individuals in your league, so we can bring on board the best volunteers possible, to really showcase Ireland as a destination for major events like this.

For more information on volunteering at EURO 2020 and the roles available, here is the link to send on: https://euro2020.fai.ie/volunteers/

To go straight into registration follow this link: https://www.uefa.com/uefaeuro-2020/about/volunteers/

For any more details or info contact uefavolunteers@fai.ie

Many thanks,

EURO 2020 Volunteer Team

Congratulations to Derek Campion on being appointed to the FAI Junior Cup Final as Assistant Referee in the Avila Stadium this Saturday 11th May.