Referees Raise a Glass to Alan Farmer
A referee on the RFU A List, Alan Farmer, who joined the Manchester & District Rugby Union Referees Society in 1991, sustained a career-ending ankle injury after officiating at some of the great clubs of the amateur era.
He went on to become a very successful Referee Assessor and Coach, first with the Manchester Society, then becoming – at age 40 - the youngest ever with the RFU. He rose to become a Level 1 Assessor, appointed to Premiership matches, U23 internationals and at A level. In 2000, he became an RFU Referee Coach, rising to Band 1 and working with the top ten referees of the time.
In 2015, after quarter of a century, Alan retired from the top echelons but, having combined his RFU activities with coaching the North Group Referees from 2004 until 2019, he continues to work with members of the North West Federation Development Squad.
His work for the Society also included two stints as Exchange Secretary, six years as Honorary Secretary and Chair of Appointments from 2009 to 2021, as well as being a member of the Society Executive, and President for 2017-19.
As Chair of Appointments, he used his knowledge and understanding of the game, of refereeing and of people, to match officials to fixtures which would maximise their enjoyment. Where there was ambition and the talent to match, he provided encouragement; opportunity and experience to further refereeing careers.
In addition to the Society, Alan served in various capacities on the North Group Committee; the North West Federation of Referees Societies; and the RFRU. All of this was accomplished alongside Alan’s day job as a head teacher in special needs education.
He is an outstanding example of someone giving back to the game and when he announced his retirement from Society administration, the Society Executive presented him with an engraved decanter and glasses – a richly deserved recognition of extraordinary service.
