Each year, Target USA CUP distributes a Founders’ Award to show appreciation for those who have greatly contributed to Target USA CUP. This year two members are being recognized for their determination to refereeing and their dedication to Target USA CUP; Trevor Wing and Don Mackinnon. They are both long time Assessors who bring large contingents of referees from the UK and Scotland, where they hail from. We thank you both and are proud to highlight your accomplishments. Make sure to keep an eye out for them at Opening Ceremonies, where they will be honored for this award, and keep reading to learn more about them!
Trevor Wing
In 1961 Trevor started playing football for Whinney Banks youth club, Whinney Banks junior school and St Martin’s church Middlesbrough.
He played for Whinny Banks until he turned 18 years old in 1969, at which point he started playing for the British Steel Brittany apprentice Training Centre in Middlesbrough. There, began his full-time job as an engineer and also played for the civil service team in the Middlesbrough & District Sunday League. Both his professional career and football career (playing, coaching and refereeing) brought him continual success.
In 1992, Wing was invited to attend USA CUP as an international referee. Wing expanded that it was a fantastic experience and unique opportunity to work with fellow referees from the USA and around the world. He signed up for the following year and was excited to spread the news to his referees back home.
He continued in this role and other roles at the tournament for years and received the award for “most contributing referee of the tournament” from the USA CUP Referees committee in 2002. Wing has made some wonderful friends, both officials and non-officials, while working in the referee headquarters. He has loved watching young and talented referees attend each year and see how they too have gotten married and brought their own family to the tournament, even coming back to referee themselves in some cases.
While working for Durham County Football Association in 2008, Wing was approached by USA CUP Committee member Roy Evans with the opportunity to recruit British referees to USA CUP. After receiving permission to do so from the English Football Association in London, Wing was pleased to get the ball rolling on bringing qualified referees from Ireland, Wales, Scotland and England to the United States.
Wing later moved onto the referees committee (now called the Referee Advisory Team or ‘RAT’), which advises referees from around the world.
In 2010 Wing again received an award from the USA Cup Committee, this time for outstanding services to USA CUP.
Although current travel restrictions prevented Wing from attending this year’s tournament, which would have been his 30th Target USA CUP, the tournament is forever shaped by his commitment to the USA CUP experience. Thank you, Trevor!
Don Mackinnon
Don Mackinnon started his referee career in 1975. He has refereed in Portugal, Spain, Denmark, Italy, France, Norway, Germany, Ireland, USA, in both Youth Boys and Girls tournaments. His love and determination has allowed him to participate in close to 2,500 games. Some of Don’s accomplishments are as follows:
4th Official Scottish Junior FA Cup Final 2007/8
Referee — Scottish Youth FA u21,u19,u17,u16 Cup Finals
Referee — West of Scotland Youth FA u21 Cup Final X 3
Assistant Referee — Evening Times Cup Winners Final X 2
- Ayrshire Junior Cup Final x2
- Euro Scottish Sectional League Cup Final X 2
- Clydesdale Cup Final
Referee — 2 X Youth International u18 boys
4th Official — Scotland v Australia Schools u18 International
Assistant Referee — Scotland v Wales Schools u18 International
Referee — Central League Junior FA 3 years
Referee Class Instructor 10 years SFAR Lanarkshire
Child Protection Coordinator SFAR Lanarkshire 18 Years
SQA Level 2 Referee instructor — SFA Referee Department. 5 Years
Shanks Jack Trophy Recipient — SFAR Lanarkshire
Willie Brown Trophy Recipient x 2 — SFAR Lanarkshire
Hugh Philips Trophy Recipient — SFAR Lanarkshire
Special Olympics GB — Referee
Pan Disability Football — Referee
Secretary of SFAR Lanarkshire 2017-18, 2018-19, 2019-20
FIFA/UEFA Delegate Liaison Coordinator 2 x IFAB meetings
Involved in SFAR Lanarkshire Minor Grade Panel set up over 16 years.
Currently SFA Referee Development Adviser.
Don started coming to USA CUP in 2003 as a referee and moved on to being part of the Assessor Group in 2011 under Roy Evans and Gordon Arrowsmith. He became Lead Assessor in 2016 and remains in that position to this day. Thank you, Don!
Questions and Answers!
What is your favorite USA CUP memory?
Mackinnon: “Refereeing in the stadium(U1) Girls U17 Semi Final Gold, my referee crew were made up of friends that I had made over the number years at the tournament, Kyle Borne, Jeff Crank and Eric Wood.”
Wing: “I have loads of fantastic Memories, every year I meet new and old friends, I have seen some growing up and bringing their own families to the Cup because of the enjoyment they get out of attending, but one stands out that was in 2002, I think it was a record year for teams and referees and after a fantastic and enjoyable Tournament I received out of the blue the referees committee award for the Most Contributing Referee, that gave me the inspiration to continue training and advising new referees.”
What does winning the Founders’ Award mean to you?
Mackinnon: “Great sense of pride that the award is being given to both of us, never expected such an honor for doing a job I love doing.”
Wing: “What a shock still cannot believe it, winning the Founders’ award, which is wonderful and is like refereeing, if you commit yourself to doing a great job then there is always something that can be achieved.”
What advice would you give to young referees or those wanting to start?
Mackinnon: “Never stop learning, hard work pays off, ask how you can improve and be a better referee and person.”
Wing: “Work at being a great referee, have self-awareness and self-criticism, invest in yourself and always look and listen to advice from your mentor or senior colleagues; how did I do today? Good points and bad points, can I improve my game? We never stop learning at any level of the game. Don’t give up; there will always be days when you feel disappointed but stick at it and seek advice. In a nutshell, as they say:
- Be the best you can be
- Football is a reflection of life with good and bad days
- There is no substitute for hard work
- Enjoy the wonderful game of football”