page revision date : 30th June 2010
Alan loves his role in the middle
Alan Boswell is rightly regarded as one of the best referees in the Manderwood Pembrokeshire Association Football League, with his down-to-earth interpretation of the rules, ability to communicate well with players, and the effortless way he keeps up with play.
Alan is one of three brothers doing such yeoman work with the whistle after playing his entire long career at Johnston, with older brother Dean and younger brother Roy also playing for the Tigers but also having spells at Hook.
Alan played in a good Johnston side which included his two brothers, Steve James, Steve Hayward, Russell Murray, Glyn Ruloff, Micky Algieri, Chris Walters, Richard James, Neil Lees and big John Codd, who was never afraid to let the rest know where they were going wrong!
Interesting start
He started out in reffing almost 11 years ago alongside Roy when players in the county were asked to take the course – and the Boswell boys did the six-week course since it gave them a chance to get out together on Friday evenings!
Both were playing for Johnston at the time and when they lost through a last-minute goal against Carew they were relegated – and Alan decided that it was perhaps the right time, at 34, to start reffing. His first match was a game between Thornton and St Florence where he kept getting too close to the ball and somewhat in the way of the players, especially at high balls, but once he learned to run different lines he took to out like a duck to water. He’ll also remember his debut because wife Dyan dropped him and old chum Derek Jenkins off at the ground so she could have the car – and it was only after she had disappeared from view that Alan realised he had left his flags in the boot so the linesmen had to use towels instead!
Cup final honours
But he soon progressed through the grades and was delighted when he was chosen to officiate at the second division cup final between Solva and Milford Athletic at the Bridge Meadow Stadium, where the Athletic won in extra time after Solva had dominated for long periods.
It was an even greater thrill when he received the ultimate local accolade of refereeing the Senior Cup Final involving Monkton Swifts and Pennar Robins, a local derby at the Bridge Meadow played in front of a big crowd. Alan had a lovely day which started with lunch in the Bristol Trader with a number of his refereeing colleagues and a good match which he thoroughly enjoyed before the Robins won 2-0.
Knows where he is going
Alan also officiates at Welsh League matches and has been on the line in the Welsh Premier League, which is another challenge in itself. Ask him about carrying on and his answer is to the point:
“I’ll do it for as long as I know that I am able to keep up with play and make sound decisions. I’ll know when it is time for me to give up, without anyone else having to tell me!”
As for ambitions, they are equally as clear:
