The Directors of BAFRA

President - Jim Briggs

Biog

Jim joined BAFRA in October 1984 and has been officiating continuously since then. Although he started out as an umpire, his main position now is referee, but he enjoys working other positions according to need.

His list of bowl assignments includes eight British championship games, one EFAF Cup final, three EuroBowl finals and he was the referee for the IFAF World Championship Final in 2003.

Jim has been involved in rules and mechanics since 1987. He is currently the editor of both the BAFA Rulebook and the BAFRA/EFAF Manual of Football Officiating.

He is a member of the National Association of Sports Officials (NASO) and has officiated high school football in Texas, Louisiana, Michigan and Colorado. He is well known as a regular speaker at officiating clinics in Britain and Europe.

He became BAFRA President in January 2006, having served as a director of BAFRA for five years in the early 1990s. His aim is to lead the association with energy and commitment, and try to have some fun along the way!

Director of Finance - Charlie Dean-Young

Biog

Charlie is a life time official, never good enougth at anything to do it at high level. He has officiated for 36 years both at soccer and Football. He has been involved in American Football for twenty five years. Charlie saw his first game in the USA, when the Jets were leading Green Bay by 21 points at half time and the Pack came back to win, and has been a Cheese-head ever since.

He contacted the BAFRA organisation after reading an advert for officials whilst on holiday in Scotland, and soon had received his rule book He did his first game at Lancaster a few days later on Tony Chetwood 's crew. Since then he has officiated in three countries, done a few bowl games, and made lots of friends.

He soon became regional training Officer for the North West and a local committee member, and was National Operations Director for three years. Then after a short break became Director of Finance.

Currently unmarried, he says nobody would have him, he has two grown children, one is starting teacher training in wales, and the other a top class athlete is doing Physiotherapy in Brum.

General Secretary - Paul Sutton

Biog

Paul has long been active behind the scenes at BAFRA. Initially, from the early 1990’s, he scheduled the officials in the north west of England and this extended to scheduling for the midlands and north of England and Scotland by the mid-1990’s. In 2000, when the number of BAFRA officials meant it was more efficient to schedule centrally, he gave up this role and took on some work in support of the Director of Finance and of analysing data returns from games (activities he has continued into his current post). After an enjoyable on-field career that saw him officiate at numerous bowl games and two internationals (mainly as a linesman or back judge), knee injuries have forced him to retire from active officiating. However, he still undertakes on-field assessments of other officials as part of BAFRA’s development and quality programmes.

Paul is married with two grown up daughters (both of whom have long since left home) and has one grandson. In March 2007 he retired after nearly forty years in the NHS.

Director of Operations - Pete Johnson

Biog

Director of Training - Davie Parsons

Biog

Strange as it may seem, Davie first caught the football bug when he was working in Saudi Arabia in the early 1980’s. Almost all his work colleagues were from the USA and they would listen religiously to games on the American Forces Radio Network and watch video every Friday night.

After 3 years in the Saudi desert he returned home to the UK. It was late 1985 and Channels 4 were starting to pick up on the sport, various Football Magazines and First Down were appearing on newsagent’s shelves. He saw an advertisement, placed by BAFRA, looking for people interested in becoming Officials and sent in his application.

During the last 10 years he has been actively involved in training new Officials in Scotland and in October 2004 he put himself forward as a candidate for Director of Training.

Director of Recruitment - vacant

Biog

Director without portfolio #1 - Dan Bridgland

Biog

Director without portfolio #1 - Keith Wickham

Biog