The Barkston Ash F.A. have awarded Bill Reay the 'Tommy Dixon services to football award' for 2020 in recognition of his loyal service to football over the last 35 years.

Bill started as a referee in 1988 after taking redundancy from Drax Power Station. He went on to become one of the counties most popular & consistent match officials doing games every Saturday, Sunday & often mid-week. He has been involved in many County; District; & local league finals as either a referee or assistant referee & in the 1990's was a regular assistant referee on the North East Football League Youth Alliance for the U18 teams.

Bill became the Barkston Ash District referee instructor & delivered many courses introducing local referees to the County, many of whom are still refereeing today - some at a high level. Throughout is time as an active official he also acted as a mentor to the up & coming referees, offering advice on how they could improve their games.

He was also the local referees society secretary for many years, never missing a meeting & is now a life member of the Barkston Ash R.A., a life member of the West Riding R.A., & an honorary life member of the Leeds R.A. 

Bill attended many Referees Association meetings as their guest & was always made welcome. He also served on the local district Barkston Ash F.A. & was a life member of the Selby Football League until it was dissolved a few seasons ago.

Such was his dedication & popularity that Bill became a regular supply league referees assessor / observer, also doing several local league referees assessments / observations, sometimes spending many hours away from home travelling all over the West Riding whilst offering his time in support of referees. Of course all this assessment & observation then required many more hours spent writing detailed reports on the referees & assistant referees, offering written guidance on how to improve their games in order to reach a higher standard.

Unfortunately, due to the pandemic, Bill & his wife Rita are having to self-isolate / shield, so the Barkston Ash have been unable to present the award to Bill, so it is with thanks to Bills son George - himself a former referee, for presenting the award on behalf of the Barkston Ash F.A.