North Middlesex Referees Society
Presentation Dinner - 21 October 2011 at Old Owens Association

On 21 October 84 Society members and guests gathered at Old Owens Association to honour six members who were being presented with Referees' Association and Football Association awards for service to refereeing and football.

George Basten, Life Vice President, was presented with the Referees' Association 50 Year Award; Gary Cobden, Society President was presented with the Referees' Association Long and Meritorious Service Award; Robin Jagot, Life Vice President; Peter Dace, Life Vice President; Mick Osborn, Life Vice President; and Donald Stewart were all presented with the Football Association 50 Year Award.  The Referees' Association awards were presented by Peter Molyneux, Life Member of the Referees' Association, and the Football Association awards were presented by Ray Lewis, FA Councillor, and former Premier League referee.

George Basten, 82, received the Referee’s Association 50 year award for services to Refereeing   George is a Life Vice President of the Society, and previously served as Vice Chairman; Social Secretary; and President.  He joined the Society in 1956, and in 1960 began helping the Society Training Centre, serving the team for over 20 years, during that time also becoming a referee examiner and assessor.  Between 1974 and 1984 he was Area Assessing Secretary for Middlesex Referees Association.  In 1981 Middlesex County FA presented him with an award “in recognition of the Administration Services to Football in Middlesex.”  George also holds the Referees Association Long and Meritorious Service award, and the Football Association 50 Year award for services to football.  George is pictured, left, above.	President Gary Cobden received the Referees’ Association Long and Meritorious Service award.  Gary is pictured, right, above.  Gary commenced refereeing in 1973, aged 15.  He was elected as an Auditor of the Society in 1984 and became a Councillor in 1988, taking over as Treasurer in 1989, a position he still holds.  Gary has also been a Councillor on Middlesex County Football Association since 2003, and currently serves on the Referees Committee, and is also Chairman of the Rules Revision Sub-Committee.	Donald Stewart, 81, brother of singer-songwriter and musician Rod was one of four members to receive the 50 Year Service Award from the Football Association.  Don is pictured, right, above.  Don played for Highgate Redwing FC and was their Secretary from 1950-1961.  He has held various administrative roles in football and qualified as a referee in 1981.  Don is still refereeing regularly, and, since 1996 he has been Secretary of Vagabond Old Boys FC – the celebrity football team in which his brother plays!
Mick Osborn, 74, is pictured, left, above.  Mick qualified as a referee in 1978, and in 1987 was elected to the Council of the Society, immediately taking on the role of Social Secretary, a position he held until 1991.  Mick assisted at the Society Training Centre for fifteen years between 1994 and 2009, and qualified as an FA Licensed Referee Instructor in 2000.  Mick is now a referee mentor helping newly qualified referees.  A former President of the Society, Mick has also been Vice-Chairman and Chairman, and he received the Referees’ Association Long and Meritorious Service award in 2009.	Peter Dace started refereeing at the age of 31 in 1972.  Until that time he had played regularly.  In his years as a referee, Peter has officiated in over 3,000 games, and served the Society as Treasurer for fifteen years between 1974 and 1989, and also served two spells as Vice Chairman of the Society.  He also spent eight years as Assistant Referees Secretary for the Capital Football League, and is now a Life Member or the League.  He is also a Life Vice President of the Society.  Peter is pictured, right, above.	Robin Jagot is pictured, left, above.  Robin started refereeing aged 21 in 1962, refereeing regularly until 2002.  He served as Society Training Secretary for 30 years until 2008.  He was elected as a Councillor for Middlesex County FA in 1989, became a Vice President in 2005, and was elected to the Board of Directors in 2010.  He currently serves on the Referees; Development; Womens; and Disciplinary Committees.  A former President of the Society, he is currently the Secretary and organised the Dinner.  He received the Referees’ Association Long and Meritorious Service award in 1999.