There are currently 49 registered referees on Jersey, of which Alf Moignard is the oldest registered and Simon De Gruchy the youngest.

Alf is 74 this year, while Simon – who is newly qualified this season – is the youngest at the tender age of 14.

Gill Morgan, the Jersey FA’s Secretary and Child Protection Officer, says that referees of all ages have been rallying round to complete the necessary checks. “Our referees are getting the message and we are currently working at getting them all to finalise their CRB checks before re-registering,” she points out.

“We are proud of them all - but I think it’s quite remarkable that we have this 60-year age difference between two of them. Both have been CRB checked. Alf hasn’t been able to do too much refereeing this season because of arthritis in his knees, but Simon is doing extremely well. He has been refereeing in our Under 12 league and has also done some Under 14 matches.”

“We have also carried out pilots at two local secondary schools to qualify referees on the two tier referee courses. We had four candidates at Le Rocquier School last year, and one has continued on to the second part of the course. This year, we had eight candidates at Les Quennevais School – including three girls – and the majority of them have indicated that they intend to take the second part of the course,” Gill explains.

“The courses will now be offered to other schools and colleges on the island. The Child protection and best practice workshop and CRB checks will be an integral part of the second tier of the course.”

“Referees and coaches are figures of authority to children and are therefore in a position where trust can be abused. It is necessary to ensure that football provides a safe and secure environment for our children to enjoy their football,” she adds.

“No one has any excuse for not taking a CRB check or not attending a Child protection and best practice workshop. A small minority of people might look on the CRB checks as bureaucracy gone mad, but football must be seen to be doing all it can to rid the game of those people who should not be entrusted with our children.”

“More and more people are being educated through these workshops as to what is and what isn’t acceptable,” Gill adds. “Eventually everyone in football will understand the philosophy behind this, and The FA will be applauded for being forerunners in making the sport a happy and safe environment for our young players.”

For more details see www.TheFA.com/TheFA/GOALChildProtection