Fermanagh referee heads to Chicago
Newtownbutler referee James Lewis has been selected to referee in the Continental Youth Championships which is a Gaelic Games Tournament that takes place on an annual basis in the United States and is the biggest tournament outside of Ireland.
Each year up to 2,500 children aged U6 to U18 participate in the Tournament with Hundreds of Games organised over the course of the 4 Day Tournament.
The 2016 Continental Youth Championships place in Gaelic Park in Chicago which is an extraordinary leap for Lewis when you consider he only took up refereeing in 2011.
Married to Lisa, James’ refereeing career started in 2011 and in 2013 entered the Ulster Referees Academy; graduating in 2015. James has also been a part of the National Referee Support Panel since 2014.
James admits the appointment came as a complete surprise, “I missed most of the pre-season games like the McKenna Cup as I was on honeymoon, but thankfully my club allowed me to train with them and it got my fitness back up pretty quickly”.
He continued, “It’s a great honour to be appointed to travel by the Ulster Referees Committee, and it reflects the great work done here in Fermanagh by the Referees Committee, so I am very grateful to the fellow referees.”
Lewis has refereed at all grades, numerous underage finals, Junior Final in 2013 and took charge of the Intermediate Champ Final in 2014. He added, “I really enjoy refereeing at all levels, the experience of the big games is brilliant at County and National level. I am constantly working with experienced top referees, meeting new people and I have made a lot of new friends from my time refereeing.
James previous Ulster Minor Football Championship appointment was last year’s quarter final Derry v Down in Celtic Park, which he is pictured in.
The competition itself will take place on 28th, 29th, 30th and 31st of July 2016.
