The South East Counties Women's Football League was instituted in 1990. It originated from the Sussex Martlet Women's League which was founded by Norma Witherden in 1969 and comprised just half a dozen Sussex clubs. The Womens Football Association, which up until 1993 governed women's football, also came into being in 1969.
During the 1980s it became apparent that a number of Kent and Surrey clubs wished to join the Sussex Martlet League following the demise of the Kent League, and for rural Surrey the only other option was to join the Greater London League, with the resultant problems with travel.
In 1989, the Women's Football Association, in order to have a greater chance of obtaining grants from the Sports Council, thought it appropriate to divide the country into ten Regions with the same boundaries as that organisation. One of those regions was to comprise the counties of Kent, Surrey and Sussex. With as many teams in the Sussex Martlet League coming from outside Sussex, it was decided to form the South East Counties League the following year. There were about 20 clubs at that time.
Since then, the League has expanded to the current figure of about 50 teams. The FA took over the running of women's football in 1993 and quickly introduced age banding so players must have attained their 14th birthday by 31st August in any year to be eligible to play the following season. In the old days, players as young as 10 or 11 were permitted to play in the adult league.
Following the formation of the Combination Leagues in 1997, the SECWFL became part of the FA pyramidal system for promotion/relegation purposes, and together with the Greater London and Eastern Leagues has promoted its Champion club to the South East Combination League via a play-off system.
From season 2005/06 promotion was automatic to the London & South East Regional League who in turn promote automatically to the South East Combination.

 

League Chairman	Michael Selle, 16 Beatrice Close, Ryde, Isle of Wight, PO33 3PB Tel/Fax: 01983 562329
Vice Chairman	Angela Bennett, 23 Eley Crescent, Rottingdean, Brighton. BN2 7FE Tel: 01273 302661 (not after 9pm)
League Secretary	Steve Cawtheray. The Prince of Wales, York Avenue, East Cowes, PO32 6JT Tel: 07977 266481
Assistant Secretary	Amy Phillips, 8 Dayspring, Guildford, Surrey. GU2 9QN Tel: 07980 651987
Treasurer	Alan Gardiner, 4 Oakhurst, 30 Somers Road, Reigate, Surrey. RH2 9DZ Tel: 01737 249085
Registrations Secretary	Michael Selle, 16 Beatrice Close, Ryde, Isle of Wight, PO33 3PB Tel/Fax: 01983 562329
Referees Appointments	Angela Bennett, 23 Eley Crescent, Rottingdean, Brighton. BN2 7FE Tel: 01273 302661 (not after 9pm)
Referees Secretary	Jenny Pearson, 2 Lysander Road, West Malling, Kent. ME19 6TT Tel: 01732 872761
Fixtures Secretary	Greg Petts, 7 Gregory Close, Sittingbourne, Kent. ME10 2UD Tel: 01795 474275 or 07932 465237 (No Calls before 9:30 am or After 9:30pm on Landline )
Phone results through to Greg Petts on 01795 474275 within 2hrs of final whistle
Club Reps	Peter Hickman, Tel: 01444 257822 Barrie Ivens, Tel: 01732 843663 Liz Symons, Tel: 07903 127256 Wayne Cook Tel: 07831 513236

Kent

Adam Aylward, 33 Belmont Place, Newtown, Ashford, Kent. TN24 0PD
Tel 01233-630940 Mob 07764 194663

Andrew Bolton, 45 Peregrine Drive, Sittingbourne ME10 4TZ
Tel: 01795-478449

Gary Casciani, 59 Beechcroft Avenue, Barnehurst, Kent. DA7 6QR
Tel 01322-403618

Alan Crinean, 45 Marine Parade, Sheerness, Kent. ME12 2BD
01795-668677 MOB 07985-261253  

Trevor Hawkins, 29 Bobbing Hill, Bobbing, nr Sittingbourne, Kent. ME9 8NY
Tel 01795-843000

Mick Kent, 26 Middletune Avenue, Milton Regis, Sittingbourne, Kent. ME10 2JB
Tel 01795-429064 Mob 07931 693197

John Proctor, 193 Bredhurst Road, Wigmore, Gillingham, Kent. ME8 0QX
Tel 01634-360287 Mob 07980 392793

Graeme Sergeant, The Gatehouse, Buckland Crossing Cottage, Teynham. ME9 9LF
01795-521158 mob 07966-005248

Ian Stride, Twinney Lodge, Susans Lane, Upchurch, Kent. ME9 7HA
Tel 01634-378262

Surrey

Dave Goater, 124 Wordsworth, Great Hollands, Bracknell, Berks. RG12 8YE
Tel 01344-422422 mobile 07775 716922

Paul Harney, Brackley, 29 Orchard Way, Reigate, Surrey. RH2 8DS
Tel 01737-242170

Dave Hogan, 6 Bower Hill Close, South Nutfield, Redhill, Surrey. RH1 5NQ
01737-823390 mob 07949-365802 

Martin Read, 1 Little Orchard, Woodham, Weybridge, Surrey. KT15 3ED
Tel 01932-343009

Dan Shoubridge, 1 Hillside Cottages, Russ Hill, Charlwood, Surrey. RH16 0EL
Mob 07748 304448

Reuben Simon, 317A Staines Road, Hounslow, Middx. TW4 5AZ
0870-901-9084 mob 07932-069502

Sussex

Paul Barratt, 7 June Meadows, June Lane, Midhurst. GU29 9ER
Home: 01730-812806 Mob: 07979 307806

Bob Bamblett, Flat 4, 3 West Parade, Bexhill-on-Sea, E Sussex. TN39 3HR
Home: 01424-734550 Mob: 07729-630310

Angela Bennett, 23 Eley Crescent Rottingdean, E Sussex. BN2 7FE
Home: 01273-302661 Mob: 07817-628547

Lisa Benn, 326 Coast Road, Pevensey Bay, BN24 6NU
01323-769209 mob 0795-2313473

Dave Bull, 51 Brentwood Road, Hollingdean, Brighton. BN1 7ET
Home: 01273-500942 Mob: 07747-696168

Paul Farmer, 36 Keld Avenue, Uckfield. TN22 5BW
Home: 01825-765232 Mob: 07711-151840

Simon Griffiths, 23 Buttercup Way, Southwater, W Sussex. RH13 9UP
Home: 01403-733820 Mob: 07867-742615

Adrian Hudson, 53 Morris Drive, Billingshurst, W Sussex. RH14 9ST
Home: 01403-784880 Mob: 07743 3786229

Joe Johnson, 31 Valentines Lea, Northchapel, Petworth, West Sussex. GU28 9HY
Home: 01428-707988 Mob: 07768 916819

Dominic Lyons, 184 Old Malling Way, Lewes, BN7 2EF
Home: 01273-476430 Mob: 07958-652504

Gary Manville-Dickens, 3 Birdham Place, Birdham Road, Brighton. BN2 4RZ
Mobile: 07815-137133

John Mclaughlin, 4 Glen Crescent, Selsey, Chichester. PO20 OQT
Home: 01243-604875 Mob: 07890516173 

Robin Ready, 122 Slonk Hill Road, Shoreham-by-Sea, BN43 6HY
Home: 01273-464339

Dave Rogers, 179 Eastbourne Road, Lower Willingdon, Eastbourne. BN20 9NB
Home: 01323-483884 Mob: 07791-970638

John Sands, 53 Malvern Way, Hastings, East Sussex. TN34 3PS
01424-436244 Mob 07979693198

Steve Weller, 137 Orchard Road, Burgess Hill, RH15 9PJ
Home: 01444-871933

Lionel Woodward, 6 Singleton Road, Broadbridge Heath. Horsham. RH12 3NP
Home: 01403-241927 Mob: 07714-258602

Football Association Guidelines for the Marking of Referees by Clubs
Mark Range	Comment
100 - 86	The referee demonstrated very accurate decision-making and controlled the game very well using management and communication skills effectively to add value to the game
85 - 76	The referee demonstrated accurate decision-making and controlled the game well using management and communication skills to contribute positively to the game
75 - 61	The referee demonstrated reasonably accurate decision-making and despite some short comings generally controlled the game well
60 and below	The referee demonstrated shortcomings in the accuracy of decision-making and control which affected the game.
Club officials should use the full range of marks within each category to help distinguish between different performance levels e.g. within the 85-76 category a mark of 84 indicates a better performance than a mark of 77. Whilst some referees may have poor matches there will usually have been some positive aspects of their performance so extremely low marks should be very rare. When club officials are marking a referee they should always look at the game as a whole and not isolated decisions. The result of the match should not influence the mark and disciplinary action should be judged objectively. When a mark of 60 or lower is awarded an explanation must be provided to the competition using the box provided on the form. The purpose of this explanation is to assist referees to improve their performance levels so the comments should be as helpful as possible. How to Decide on the Referee’s Mark The following questions focus on the key areas of a referee’s performance. They are intended as an “aide memoire”, are not necessarily comprehensive and need not be answered individually. It is, however, worth considering them before committing yourself to a mark for the referee. CONTROL AND DECISION MAKING • How well did the referee control the game? • Were the players’ actions recognized correctly? • Were the Laws applied correctly? • Were all incidents dealt with efficiently/effectively? • Were all the appropriate sanctions applied correctly? • Was the referee always within reasonable distance of incidents? • Was the referee well positioned to make critical decisions, especially in and around the penalty area? • Did the referee understand the players’ positional intentions and keep out of the way accordingly? • Did the referee demonstrate alertness and concentration throughout the game? • Did the referee apply the use of the advantage to suit the mood and temperature of the game? • Was the referee aware of the players’ attitude to advantage? • Did the referee use the assistants effectively? • Did the officials work as a team, and did the referee lead and manage them to the benefit of the game? COMMUNICATION AND PLAYER MANAGEMENT • How well did the referee communicate with the players during the game? • Did the referee’s level of involvement/profile suit this particular game? • Did the referee understand the players’ problems on the day – e.g. difficult ground/weather conditions? • Did the referee respond to the changing pattern of play/mood of players? • Did the referee demonstrate empathy for the game, allowing it to develop in accordance with the tempo of the game? • Was the referee pro-active in controlling of the game? • Was the referee’s authority asserted firmly without being officious • Was the referee confident and quick thinking? • Did the referee appear unflustered and unhurried when making critical decisions? • Did the referee permit undue questioning of decisions? • Did the referee deal effectively with players crowding around after decisions/incidents? • Was effective player management in evidence? • Was the referee’s body language confident and open at all times? • Did the pace of the game, the crowd or player pressure affect the referee negatively? Final Thoughts • Always try to be objective when marking. You may not obtain the most objective view by marking immediately after the game. • Judge the performance over the whole game. Don’t be too influenced by one particular incident. • Don’t mark the referee down unfairly because your team was unlucky and lost the game or some disciplinary action was taken against your players.

SECWFL Guide to Match Arrangement and Matchday Administration

Match arrangement.

Pitches - A club is responsible for giving as much notice of their grounds being unavailable as possible. If your pitch becomes unavailable after a home game has been scheduled, then it is your responsibility to either arrange with your opposition to reverse the fixture or find an alternative suitable venue. The Fixtures Secretary must be informed of all changes of venue where a game is not being played at the ground logged in the handbook.

Referee’s – These are allocated by the League’s Referee’s Appointment’s Officer for most games, priority given to the highest divisions and games of more importance. The allocations are generally done monthly, but often change due to circumstances beyond our control.

Referees must be notified of the details of your game 7 days prior to the fixture. Rule10(D)

If you are not allocated a Referee then, you must find one, in all cases where a referee is club appointed then you must inform your opposition who the referee is and how they are connected to your club.

You should look to find a referee that meets the following guidelines in order of preference.

1. A qualified and County Registered Referee with no direct connection to home club.
2. A qualified and Registered Referee that has a direct connection to Club.
3. Ask you Opposition if they can provide a qualified and registered referee. For which the home team must pay the fees and expenses of as per rule 13
4. Agree with you opposition on someone that doesn’t meet with the above 3 options.

 

Opposition – The Secretary of the home Club must give notice in writing of full particulars of the location of, and access to, the ground and time of kick-off to the match officials and the Secretary of the opposing Club at least SEVEN clear days prior to the playing of the match.  The away Club shall seek and acknowledge receipt of such particulars.

Postponements – Notice of postponement of any match, must be given without delay by the postponing Club to the Fixtures Secretary, the Competition Referees Appointments Secretary, the Secretary of the opposing Club and the match officials.

Match day Administration

Hosting – Please ensure that someone is available to greet the opposition and match officials when they arrive at the ground, to show them to their dressing rooms and to the location of the pitch and the whereabouts of toilets for their spectators.

Referee’s cards

Referee’s Club Score Card – These white cards must be given to the referee whether League or club appointed by the home team before the match. They should have the Date, Competition and home & away team names already filled in and should have a stamp on. If the referee is club appointed please explain to them that we would request that they mark the two assistants and each club for sportsmanship so ensure that each assistant gives their names to the referee.

Referee’s Marks Card – Both teams must complete one of these and post it after every SECWFL Match.

Match Return Form – Please ensure that these are correctly filled out prior to the match the small column on the right is for the player’s shirt numbers. The blue sheet must be exchanged with your opposition in the presence of the referee, and the pink sheet given to the referee, at least 10 minutes prior to kick off. At this point the arrangements should be made to inspect the identity cards of the opposition, the procedure to do this is explained in rule 10(K).

After the match each team is required to select a player from the opposition to given the player of the match award, this should be recorded on your oppositions Yellow sheet. So that your player of the match picked by your opposition is recorded on your yellow sheet.

The yellow sheet must also be completed to show the match result, scorers, and substitutes used and then posted to the Registrations Secretary within 3 days of the match.

The white sheet is for your own records.

Match Result – Must be telephoned to Greg Petts on 01795 474275 within 2 hours of the match by the home club. Clubs competing in a competition outside the jurisdiction of the League (FA Cup, County Cup etc), whether home or away, must also phone their result within two hours of the end of the match.

If in doubt on any of these points, please ask the relevant League Officer for advice.