Soccer Nova Scotia and, in particular, the Halifax Referee Association mourns the recent loss of Dave Horne. Dave was a great supporter and contributor to the game in the HRM for many years. An avid supporter of the game at all levels, he could be seen at many fields including cheering on the Wanderers from the seats shared with Norma.
Dave refereed many levels of the game locally, indoors as well as out, and in many of the school competitions. His quiet manner and in depth understanding of the game served the soccer community well both on the field and in classroom study sessions with other referees. Dave even showed his writing talents as a contributor to the SNS Newsletter that graced the soccer scene for a short time.
As an administrator in referee programming, Dave was involved in the process of amalgamation of the Halifax and Dartmouth referee associations into the Halifax Dartmouth Referee Committee. He contributed greatly as part of the newly formed administrative committee and served as the chair of the committee during its infancy helping it get organized and productive. Through this role, he provided advice and leadership within the Nova Scotia Referee Development Committee.
Dave’s love for referee development was shown in his dedication to mentoring of referees. He could be seen, notebook in hand, providing advice and encouragement to the new, and not so new, developing referees. His detailed and greatly beneficial mentoring reports proved to be of great value to the fortunate referees and to the referee development program. His kind and supportive manner provided encouragement and advice to many as they learned their craft and gained confidence to meet challenges both on and off on the field of play. We are all better thanks to his generous contributions to development.
Dave will be missed from the soccer community and referee gatherings.
