A Cumbrian football stalwart has been honoured by the county for his services to the game.
Ron Caffrey, of Workington, has been presented with a 50-year service medal by the Cumberland FA’s CEO Ben Snowden.
The medal and certificate were handed over at Borough Park yesterday, where Workington Reds were playing their final game of the season. Ron has been a lifelong fan.
His football career began as a player from the age of 15 in the Derwent Valley Junior League (Under-18s) with Workington Town Boys Club.
He particularly remembers playing in a Lonsdale Cup semi-final against Coronation Boy Club when they lost 4-3.
He then moved into the Workington Sunday League with Town Boys Club (and won a runner-up trophy 1971/72 season), Deer Orchard and Seaton Village.
In the West Cumberland League, he played for British Steel before deciding to take up the whistle in 1975, becoming a Class One and officiating until 1996.
He officiated in Cumberland Football Association county cups, Workington Sunday League, Egremont Sunday League, Derwent Valley Junior League, West Cumberland League, Carlisle & District League and Westmorland League.
That all added up to 642 match appointments with 148 linesman duties. In that time he sent off 95 players and cautioned 440.
Other appointments as an assistant referee came in the FA Cup, FA Trophy, FA Vase, Cumberland FA Cup Finals and Lancashire League.
He was a member of the West Cumberland Referees Society from September 1975 to June 1994; a member of the East Cumberland Referees Society from July 1994 to June and treasurer for the West Cumberland Referees Society from 1978 to 1983.
He has also held other positions in local football -Team Secretary for the Workington Town Boys Club Under-18s team (1969/70); League Secretary for the Derwent Valley Junior League and also fixtures and treasurer from 1980 to 1990.
He was referees appointment secretary for the Workington Sunday League from 1983-1993 and Workington Sunday League vice-chairman 1992-93.
He was referees appointment secretary for the following football league in Cumberland, Cumberland County League Wearside, Northern Alliance, Cumberland FA competition and other referees appointment by the Cumberland FA secretary from August 2004 to June 2006.
- Other appointments included:
- Referees Appointment Secretary for the Workington Sunday League from August 2007 to May 2010
- Workington Sunday League, Assistant League Secretary June 2010 to November 2014
- Workington Sunday League Secretary from November 2014 to December 2022
- Workington Sunday League Treasure’s from July 2017 to December 2022
- Cumberland County League committeeperson July 2023 to July 2024
- Assessing Cumberland FC referees for promotion to a high grade, from January 2009 to 2012
“Football has played a major role in my life and I’ve worked alongside some excellent people here in the county. I was delighted to receive this award, “ said Ron.
