The John B Machin Award

 

BACKGROUND DETAIL:

 

JOHN B. MEACHIN B.PE. M.A. (1941-2001) – PLAYER, COACH, REFEREE, AND ADMINISTRATOR.

The early years of John Meachin’s soccer career began in England playing for Stockport County Boys, then professional teams such as Manchester United, Manchester City and Aston Villa. When recurring injuries prematurely ended his career as a player, he turned to coaching and then refereeing with The Football Association. Moving to Canada as a Class 2 official, and a Level 3 Provincial Coach, he worked his way to become a FIFA Referee in 1981. Highlights of his nine-year FIFA Referee career include the World University Games in Mexico, the FIFA U16 World Championships in Canada, the FIFA Coca Cola World Championships in Chile, the CONCACAF Youth Championships in Honduras, and the first FIFA Women’s World Championship in China. During this time he obtained a Bachelor’s Degree in Physical Education, a B.C. Secondary School Teaching Certificate, and a Masters Degree. Personal and referees’ fitness was a constant focus.

Both on the field, and off, John Meachin was dedicated to soccer. For seventeen years he was Secretary of the BC Soccer Referees’ Association; six years as Director and then President of the B.C. Soccer Association; Provincial, and CSA Referee Staff Instructor and Assessor; CONCACAF Instructor; member of the CSA Referees’ Committee; Director of Futsal Canada; and co-founder/first President of the Canadian Soccer Referees’ Association.

During his soccer career, John Meachin received many awards:
The C.S.A. Ray Morgan Award (1984 & 1990),
the Sport B.C. Official of the Year Award (1987),
Life Membership in the BCSRA (1990),
Life Membership in the V.A.S.R.A. (1990),
and the Long and Meritorious Service Award - B.C.S.R.A. (1990).

John believed that Canadian soccer referees needed more international ‘exposure’ so that the soccer bureaucracies would have the opportunity to choose more Canadians for international matches and symposia than was the practice when he was involved.

The John B. Meachin Memorial Fund and Award was established to honor the work and efforts of the late John Meachin, and to continue his vision to provide more opportunities for Canadian soccer referees to attend high-level international symposia, workshops and competitions. The Fund is to assist these referees in achieving and maintaining their international status through "grants-in-aid" to offset out-of-pocket expenses at these events. The Award is to recognize the individual(s) who is (are) given a grant from the Fund.

The Fund, started by the Meachin family, was established following John Meachin’s untimely death on March 2nd, 2001. The Fund initially drew $2,610 in personal and organizational donations. The Meachin family has added an additional $2,390 making the Fund’s initial value $5,000.00.

 

 

VISION:

To upgrade and improve the knowledge of soccer refereeing both on and off the field. To develop an understanding of international protocol, to provide personal exposure, and advance the status of Canadian Soccer Referees nationally and internationally.

 

 

MISSION:

To establish and maintain a Fund that provides a Grant to qualified soccer referees for out-of-pocket travel expenses at sanctioned international symposia, workshops and competitions. The Fund will be entitled, "The John B. Meachin Memorial Soccer Fund".

 

 

OBJECTIVES:

To recognize and announce the recipient(s) of a grant from the Fund being an amount up to $1000 Canadian, at the annual general meeting of the Canadian Soccer Referees’ Association.

The Award will be entitled, "The John B. Meachin Memorial Soccer Award", and a commemorative plaque will be given to each recipient in recognition of receiving the grant.

 

 

ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA:

This grant and Award is open to all Canadian Soccer Referees who meet the following criteria:

 

 

APPLICATION PROCEDURES:

  1. Application forms will be available with a list of upcoming international events, from the Secretary of the Canadian Soccer Referees’ Association.

  2. Completed application forms, with all accompanying documents, should be sent to the Secretary of the Canadian Soccer Referees Association on or before a specified date each year. (This date may be established once the inaugural event has taken place.)

  3. Applicants may apply each year.

  4. Applicants must meet the Eligibility Criteria as listed above.

  5. Applicants must complete a resume of their academic, social and recreational achievements.

  6. Applicants must submit no less than 3 and not more than 5 match and/or project reports outlining their participation in sanctioned symposia, workshops or competitions over the previous 24 months.

  7. Not less than 2 and not more than 4 letters of support and endorsements of the applicant must accompany applications. The individuals or organizations providing this support must have known the applicant for at least the past 5 years.

 

 

FUND MANAGEMENT AND ADMINISTRATION:

The Meachin family under the name, "The John B. Meachin Memorial Soccer Fund" will hold the Fund in trust until the inaugural Award presentation. The choosing of the recipient and the awarding of the annual grant will be administered by and through the Canadian Soccer Referees Association. A copy of the recipient’s application will be sent each year to the Meachin family along with a copy of the Annual Fiscal Statement of the Fund.

The Meachin family will provide the plaque and has committed to support the Fund on an annual basis, and encourages individuals and organizations to do the same.

Any changes to the text or application of "The John B. Meachin Memorial Soccer Fund and Award" will require notification to, and acceptance by, the Meachin family1



Recipients

Hector Vergara 2003











CSRA JOHN B. MEACHIN AWARD
CSRA JOHN B. MEACHIN APPLICATION FORM















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