Referees set to hit the fairways
Scorecards as opposed to red cards will be the order of the day when the Whistle Foundation stages its first event as a registered charity later this month, writes Nick Elwell.
The Foundation was set up three years ago by local referees Jamie Lunn, Ajay Sharma, Greg Rollason and Matt Bond, with the aim of raising funds for local causes.
Two successful football matches between two teams of match officials raised over £3,000 and such was their success that the four men in black decided to make things official.
And after becoming a registered charity they will now tee-off their latest year of fund raising with a golf day at The Staffordshire Golf Club in Swindon, on Friday, April 26 with all proceeds going to the Beacon Centre For The Blind.
Ex-Wolves midfielder Steve Daley will head up a team of four former Molineux favourites on the course and also provide the entertainment with his stand-up routine at the evening dinner that rounds off the day.
“The golf day will be our first event as a registered charity and we are looking forward to it,” said 28-year-old Lunn. “We have 13 teams booked in so far and a few more people who are coming along for the meal in the evening and to listen to Steve.
“There will also be a raffle and an auction for some sporting memorabilia.
“We have organised a couple of games featuring two teams of referees over the last two years and they have gone pretty well and raised some money.
“It was hard work but we enjoyed doing it and decided that if we were going to carry on, then we would make things official and become a registered charity.
“We have other events planned for later in the year. We are in the process of organising another game and there will also be a night with former Premier League referee Jeff Winter at the Beacon Centre in July.
“We will also soon have our own website up and running and hopefully at the end of the year we will be able to hand over a tidy sum to the Beacon Centre.”
