Long service

Press, 9 April 1980, Page 24

Long service

Two of Canterbury’s most prominent soccer referees, Alan Coulson and Brian Hulton, have been presented with long and meritorious service awards by the New Zealand Referees’ Association. The awards were made at the recent annual general meeting of the association. Both men have fashioned distinguished records in the sport. Mr Coulson began refereeing in Canterbury in 1958, after playing for Shamrock for the previous 12 years. He was awarded his New Zealand badge, class one, in 1961 and spent seven years, starting in 1964, on the Canterbury Examination Board for referees.

Since 1972, Mr Coulson has been a member of the New Zealand Examination Board and two years after that, he was appointed to the New Zealand Assessors panel. In addition, he has served as chairman of the national examination board, assessors panel, New Zealand Appointments Board and the Canterbury Appointments Board for the last two seasons.

Mr Coulson, who refereed for 13 years before injuries forced his retirement, was elected a life member of the Canterbury Referees’ Association last year and is, along with Mr Hulton, a vice-president of the N.Z.R.A.

Mr Hulton began refer-

eeing in England in 1948 and spent several years in the Waikato region, acting as secretary for the Waikato Referees’ Association for nine years; during this time he was awarded his class one New Zealand badge. In 1964, Mr Hulton was president of the,'W.R.A. and joined the Canterbury association six years later.* He was president of the

C.R.A. in 1975-76 and has been on the national coaching panel for the lastj three years. His appointments include two Rothmans League matches, two Chatham Cup North Island l finals and the 1975 junior' national cup final. ■ The award, given for 15; years of administrative; • service, has been present-i ed to four other Canter*;; bury officials, Cyril Swee-; ney, Jim Davidson, the 1 ) late Tom Mathie and Ivan i Billcliff.