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Referees

Referees perform a vital role in the game, and with the growth in the popularity of football, particularly for women and children, the demand for match officials is increasing. From local park football on a Sunday morning to the FA Cup Final, all football needs referees.

There are many different levels of refereeing from those who officiate at youth level through to the very highest appointments at International Level.
The Football Association estimates that in some areas of the country, 20 per cent of games are played without a qualified match official. We have a shared goal with TheFA to assist them in the recruitment of more referees to ensure that, in future, every game has a qualified official who is receiving regular training and support.
Anyone over the age of 14 can become a referee. All that is required is a passion for the game and the successful completion of a training course.
The first stage involved in becoming a referee is to make contact with us to discuss your aspirations and the second stage is to attend a basic Referees Course and pass the exam at the end of the course.

Manchester County FA stongly advises all referees to become members of their local Referees Society or Association. If you would like more information on this please contact us so that we may connect you with the appropriate Society.

For further information on becoming a referee and progressing through the ranks, contact:
Peter Roberts, Referee Development Officer at Manchester FA on 0161 604 7619 or e-mail peter.roberts@manchesterfa.com