Respect the Ref is a new nationwide campaign launched by The FA to help people think about their behaviour towards referees.

Just like everybody else, referees love the game of football and should be treated will the respect they deserve - both on and off the pitch.

This is a very topical subject at the moment, with an increase of allegations of poor behaviour towards referees being seen across many areas of the country, including in North Riding.

Our CEO, Steven Wade, recently penned an open letter to address this topic HERE

Meanwhile, to mark the start of the Respect the Ref campaign, and to bring you closer to our referee workforce in North Riding, we'll be using this page to share some comments from our referees, which have been written and submitted in recent days.

The individual profiles can be seen below, and if you'd like to find out more about the Respect the Ref campaign, please CLICK HERE

MEET OUR REFEREES

Matthew Dicicco

Age: 34
Level: 2A
Location: Middlesbrough 

How many years have you refereed?

16 

What do you enjoy about refereeing?

Working together as a team of four officials and being part of the professional game  

What do you hope to achieve in refereeing?

Football League Referee 

Why would you recommend refereeing? 

Great to be involved in the game if you can’t play anymore, great for fitness and improving decision making and communication skills and a bit of pocket money at the end of the day.

Key skills needed to be a referee? 

Resilience, decision making, communication, management, mental toughness and physical endurance. 

Any other comments you would like to make?

Give it a go you don’t know you are going to be good at something if you have never tried it. 

Tommy Brown

Age: 20

Level: 5

How many years have you refereed?

I have been refereeing now for 5 years.

What do you enjoy about refereeing?

I enjoy anticipation before the match, the build-up prior to kick off especially when working with assistant referees, the decision making during the match, working together as a team of officials and the feeling when a game goes well is great.

What do you hope to achieve in refereeing?

I hope to progress as far as I can through the levels.

Why would you recommend refereeing? 

I would recommend becoming a referee because of the sense of pride it gives you when the game goes well, also the opportunities that refereeing creates are massive. I have been lucky enough to attend the Paris World Games in 2019 which is an overseas tournament, teams from across the world participated and it was overall a great experience. It has helped improve my refereeing massively, with inputs from observers around the world.

Key skills needed to be a referee? 

The key skills I think are needed to be a referee are good communication, have a reasonable level of fitness, good team working skills, confidence, and the ability to remain calm under pressure as well as many more. Refereeing will also help you develop these skills and provide you with lots more.

Any other comments you would like to make?

If you are thinking of completing a refereeing course, do not be worried about first starting out as the support from North Riding FA is great and they will be there to answer any questions you have. North Riding FA will support you through your refereeing journey, they also have a fantastic team to assist and support with any problems you may have.

Euan Sadler

Age: 15

Level: Trainee 

How many years have you refereed?

3 months

What do you enjoy about refereeing?

I have a passion for the game and have played football since I was 5. I enjoy a challenge and enjoy reffing different age groups each week. I also enjoy making a bit of money. 

What do you hope to achieve from refereeing?

I hope one day I can become a ref at the highest level!

Why would you recommend refereeing? 

If you enjoy football as a sport it is really good to boost your confidence and even after you completed the course you are still learning each week.
It is good experience and it teaches you to have a strong mentality while still remaining professional!

Key skills needed to be a referee?

Patience
Knowledge
Be confident in your decisions
Thick skin

Any other comments?

Since completing my FA course in August this year I have really enjoyed getting started and have done lots of games from under 7s to under 12s.
I know I’m going to still make mistakes but I’m still learning. I have had to ignore some comments from parents and coaches and do feel I am confident enough to speak to them and ask them to be respectful.

Stephen Ryan

Age: 64
Level: 5
Location: Middlesbrough

How many years have you refereed? 

18 

What do you enjoy about refereeing?

It helps me keep fit, supporting local league football

What do you hope to achieve in refereeing?

Just to be acknowledged as a good, honest referee

Why would you recommend refereeing?
 
Yes, it can be a rewarding experience

Key skills needed to be a referee? 

Good understanding of the laws of the game, people skills, patience & be confident.

Any other comments you would like to make?

The vast majority of teams accept the decisions made by the referee as honest and impartial. Most teams have at least one person that will contest any decision and it’s how you manage that person that can affect the game.

Sophie Wood

Age: 23

Level: 7 & 4W

Location: York

How many years have you refereed?

8 years

What do you enjoy about refereeing?

I enjoy the feeling when a game has gone positively and the confidence this brings. I also enjoy the people and friendships I have made throughout my time as a referee. The support that I have received and not only increased my capabilities as a Match Official but it has provided me the opportunity to broaden my skill set.

What do you hope to achieve in refereeing?

I hope to climb the promotion ladder in both the men’s and women’s game to enable me to referee at the highest possible level

Why would you recommend refereeing? 

Refereeing increases key life skills such as confidence and communication. Through dealing with the differing situations of a football match, your mental toughness and resilience also benefits.  I have been able to meet many like minded people since I began refereeing so it is a great way to socialise and make friends.

Key skills needed to be a referee? 

I believe the key skill required to me a referee is the willingness to push outside of you comfort zone to learn the laws of the game be able to put them into practice. Confidence is a skill that can be gain through refereeing games so this will take time!

Any other comments you would like to make?

There are many transferable skills that can be gained through refereeing which can be applied to your education or work, so I would definitely recommend taking the first steps into refereeing regardless of if you see this as a career path or you would simply like to give back to the footballing community.

Chris Profitt     

Age: 26
Level: 5
Location: Middlesbrough

How many years have you refereed?

I have been involved in refereeing for the last 9 years.

What do you enjoy about refereeing?

I love the buzz of matchdays and interacting with my colleagues and players on the field of play and ensuring I can help be involved in making sure the game is enjoyable for all participants and bringing the game to a safe conclusion. I love the camaraderie between the referees and the support we all give each other to being the best we possibly can be. 

What do you hope to achieve in refereeing?

I hope to be able to referee on the Contributory League’s in the near future and referee the biggest games available.

Why would you recommend refereeing? 

Refereeing is a fantastic way of building your confidence, man management and communication skills which are transferrable to many aspects of day to day working life. Refereeing has allowed me to remain involved in football and meet some great people within the game that are now friends for life. The opportunities available to aspiring referees have never been greater, which can take you to places such as Middlesbrough FC Academy Games, County FA Exchange Programmes, Football Tournaments Abroad and access to the National FA Centre of Excellence Programme. Whether its pocket money, staying involved in the game or becoming a referee to become the very best you can be, there is something for everyone.

Key skills needed to be a referee? 

In order to be a successful referee, you need to have good communication and man management skills. In addition to this, you need to be able to show leadership to manage and lead your team on the field of play. Be open minded because football is a game with lots of opinions.

Any other comments you would like to make?

The refereeing community is a very unique and enjoyable community to be a part of. It’s a community like no other than provides the best level of support and enjoyment from a working and personal relationship perspective.

Charlotte Jacques-Smith 

Age: 24
Level 7/trainee referee

I am new to refereeing- I completed the course in August 

I enjoy refereeing because I can meet new people and give back to my local community.

I hope to achieve new skills and gain experience within the game

I would recommend refereeing because you can gain transferable skills, you can meet new people and a way to earn some extra money doing something you enjoy.

Skills required? Good communication, confidence and a friendly and approachable manner are skills that are desirable when refereeing.
 

Mazammel Hussain 

Level: 7

Location: Middlesbrough

How many years have you refereed?

1 year 5 months

What do you enjoy about refereeing?

● Involvement in Grassroots football
● Exercise
● Watching great football and goals
● Meeting new people and different venues

What do you hope to achieve in refereeing?

Improve knowledge of game.

Make a difference and encourage more BAME to get involved in refereeing.

Progress to higher level.

Why would you recommend refereeing?

Improve confidence and communication skills

Key skills needed to be a referee?

PATIENCE
Game Management
Good Communicator