The PGMO is the organisation set up some years ago to manage match officials who officiate at the professional game level.
The Board consists of the Chief Executives of The FA, The FA Premier League and the Football League and is chaired by Peter Heard.
The Management Team consists of Keith Hackett, General Manager, Neale Barry, Head of Senior Referee Development at The Football Association and Dave Allison, National Referee Manager supported by three Divisional Managers and a team of ten Coaches.
We employ two Sports Scientists and call upon the services of a Sports Psychologist, Dietician, Podiatrist and a Vision Scientist to assist us in the preparation of our match officials.
All match officials wear a Polar Heart Monitor that enables the data collected from their Training schedules and on field movement to be carefully monitored.
The Select Group Referees consider themselves to be the 21st team in the Premier League and the PGMOL provide to referees all of the back up support similar to that which is available to Premiership players.
Performances are continually monitored in our goal to improve standards of officiating. The role of the Delegate appointed by the Premier League to carry out this role independently of the PGMOL has proven to be a positive step in improving the understanding of Referees with regard to on-field management of players.
Training sessions at our fortnightly meetings have continued to concentrate on changing the approach of referees to a more pro-active man-management style of officiating.
Areas of improving the detection and appropriate punishment for simulation, illegal challenges and the increasing offences of holding, pushing and blocking have figured in our review sessions on a regular basis.
The 2006-2007 season saw the introduction of a communication system to aid the match officials' on-field performance and to improve teamwork.
In season 2007-2008 the Select Group, who officiate in the FA Premier League as well as other competitions, will consist of 19 professional referees
S G Bennett (Kent FA)
*M.L.Dean (Cheshire FA)
M Halsey (Lancashire FA)
U Rennie (Sheffield & Hallamshire CFA)
*H Webb (Sheffield & Hallamshire CFA)
*M A Riley (West Riding FA)
*R Styles (Hampshire FA)
C Foy (Lancashire FA)
P Dowd (Staffordshire FA)
A Wiley (Staffordshire FA)
S Tanner (Hampshire FA)
*M Atkinson (West Riding FA)
*M Clattenburg (Northumberland FA)
P Walton (Northamptonshire FA)
B Knight (London FA)
L.S.Mason (Lancashire FA)
L.W. Probert (Whiltshire FA)
K.P Stroud (Hampshire FA)
A Marriner (Birmingham FA)
(* FIFA Referee)
Referees in this group receive an 'annual retainer' of £33,000 plus match fees for their commitment to training and development over several days each month in addition to their match commitments. Importantly, referees will be allowed to continue with their chosen careers.
Assistant referees in the Select Group will be appointed from a panel of 51 experienced officials and will receive an allowance for their time dedicated to training.
In Season 2007-2008, 56 referees will officiate at the National List level supported by 200 assistant referees.