Sutton honoured by Clare referees

ENNIS man Padraic Sutton’s achievement in becoming one of only four FIFA-graded Irish referees was recognised by the Clare Soccer Referees Association on Monday evening.
At the function, attended by members of the Clare Junior and Schoolboys League, John Murray, chairman of the Clare referees’ branch, made a presentation to Sutton, the first Clare referee to achieve a FIFA badge. The function was also attended by the referees’ assessor for Clare, Paddy Collins.
The fact that there are only four in Ireland with this qualification and just six in England highlights the achievement of the Limerick-based garda sergeant.
“The badge qualifies me to officiate at any level in world football and later this month I will be going to Cyprus with all the new referees, where we will meet up with the elite referees before taking part in a final fitness test,” Sutton told The Clare Champion.
He played football with both Cloughleigh Celtic and Turnpike Rovers, with whom he was selected as player of the year in 1995.
“I started refereeing in 1998 and I have got tremendous support from both Noel Bennett and Noel Coughlan. I did my first course with Noel Bennett, who always encouraged me,” explained Sutton.
His first game as a referee was a schoolboys fixture between Turnpike Rovers and Lifford, which took place in Doora in the old St Michael’s AFC pitch and he quickly progressed up to junior ranks. Within two years he was part of the school of excellence with the FAI.
“I was accepted on the recommendation of Noel Bennett and I qualified from there and was accepted onto the Eircom League panel.”
Sutton has been part of the Eircom panel since 2000. “I started out as an assistant to Martin O’Brien,” he said. The Ennis man continued to progress up the refereeing ladder and for the past two years has been eligible for European competition and was part of Cork man Alan Kelly’s team of officials.
“It’s a huge commitment but my work is very supportive. Because of work and League of Ireland commitments, I don’t get to do too many games at local level but I believe it is very important to officiate at where it all began.”
On Sunday, he will take charge of the eagerly awaited Munster Junior Cup fourth-round tie at Lees Road between Rock Rovers and Pike Rovers from Limerick.
Last season, Sutton officiated at the Champions League game in Romania between the champions of Romania and the champions of Switzerland.
“Alan Kelly from Cork was in charge and all the officials were Irish,” according to Sutton.
“Hopefully everything will go well in Cyprus and then it will be a matter of waiting to be appointed to a fixture,” he concluded.