In 2023, The FA launched a landmark three-year referee strategy for English football, ‘To Grow, Guide, and Govern’. To mark the second year of this strategy, we sat down with our Head of Refereeing Operations, Peter Elsworth, and Head of Refereeing Development, Nathan Magill, to discuss all things refereeing and to review the successes and milestones since the launch, as well as the opportunities and goals for the future.
Firstly, a question for you both, what has been your overall reflections on the second year of our refereeing strategy?
After a strong first year, the challenge we set ourselves was to sustain that momentum and build on it – and the signs have been overwhelmingly positive. We've continued to grow, with the number of registered referees now at around 39,000, up 2,000 from this time last year. Encouragingly, much of this growth is among young people - around 57% of our referees are under 24, and 40% are under 18. The profile of referees is clearly evolving.
A major reason for our growth in our referee numbers has been improved retention, which has been great to see as it’s been a key part of our strategy. This means we’ve been able to put more resource into developing experienced referees and supporting their growth, which in turn improves standards across the game. While recruitment has never been our main issue, keeping referees has historically been a challenge. Last year, we achieved an 82% retention rate, which is the highest we’ve ever recorded. That stability is helping to build a stronger and more experienced referee base. Satisfaction among referees has also reached an all-time high, with 78% expressing positive views.
Overall, we’re really happy with our progress moving into year three of our strategy.
Nathan, you’ve been in the role for a year now, what has been your highlight during your first season and where do you see the areas of opportunity for year 3 and beyond?
Well, it's been an exciting time to join The FA, with the strategy in place and a lot of positive work underway. One of the major achievements in the last 12 months has been the revamp of our Centre of Refereeing Excellence (CORE) programme, which has been a cornerstone of our talent development for the last decade. We understand that the game is changing, and modern football requires a modern referee, so we needed to ensure that we’re keeping our training and development schemes updated.
This is why we have launched our new National Performance Centre (NPC), as part of FA CORE which will serve as the central hub for the top 30 referee prospects in the country, providing them with a structured, high performance training environment designed to support and accelerate their progression into the elite ranks. It’s great to be involved in the improvement of the development system at such a pivotal time. In addition to the NPC we also have over 100 referee development events planned for the upcoming season.
Peter, the progress being made to diversify the refereeing pipeline and make it more inclusive has been encouraging. How important is it to continue this momentum from grassroots to elite, and what do you hope to see in the next season and beyond?
This is something we’ve been focused on since launching our refereeing strategy. A key goal has always been to create a joined-up, sustainable model that supports underrepresented communities from grassroots right through to the elite level.
One of our core strategic targets is to ensure representation is equal throughout all levels of the game. That means it's not enough to boost diversity at entry level; we need to see that talent progress through the referee pathway. So far, we've implemented a bursary scheme to help Black, Asian, and Mixed Heritage match officials get started, followed by mentoring programmes to retain and support them.
Most recently, we’ve begun identifying and accelerating the development of talented referees from underrepresented backgrounds. Through our Talent ID events for Black, Asian and Mixed Heritage match officials, over 50 officials have already been identified and many are part of the PGMO-led ‘CORE X’, which is a collaborative programme with The FA and BAMREF, alongside The FA’s CORE Men’s & Women’s. By fast-tracking these individuals’ development through national programmes and into elite training environments, we're building a pathway where diversity at the highest level becomes the norm, not the exception. This initiative has helped us increase the number of Black, Asian, and Mixed Heritage referees in the game by 17.5% in the past season (over 4,100 referees).
Peter, a question on referee abuse - how big a challenge is this and what is being done to combat it, and support referees who are victim to these unacceptable behaviours?
Abuse of referees remains a challenge, and it's something we’re committed to tackling through suitable sanctions and sending a clear message that this behaviour is totally unacceptable and will not be tolerated. We continue to encourage referees to report incidents whether verbal, physical, or discriminatory so that appropriate support and action can follow.
Proactively, we're focused on changing the culture around refereeing, especially through education. It’s difficult to shift long-standing attitudes and perceptions, but we’re prioritising youth engagement to shift the narrative moving forwards - making refereeing a recognised and respected part of football alongside playing or coaching.
Alongside this, we became the first Football Association to introduce the trial of bodycams for grassroots referees, which were used in over 4,000 matches across eight leagues last season. In these matches, the bodycams were activated 6 times in response to situations where the referee felt it was necessary, and used as a visible deterrent in escalating moments. This suggests a strong deterrent effect and supports the case for continued exploration of the technology.
We are currently assessing the impact of the expanded trial and are surveying participants, match officials, and leagues to help shape the next phase of the pilot and any decisions regarding future implementation.
Ultimately, everyone involved in the game has a responsibility to respect referees. From players and coaches to spectators and parents, creating a safe and positive environment is a shared duty. Without referees, the game simply doesn’t happen, and our message would be to treat these our match officials with compassion and respect.
What’s the current state of play with the number of referees in England in terms of recruitment and retention, Peter?
The current state of referee numbers in England is showing promising growth. Last season ended with around 39,000 registered referees, and early figures this season indicate a rise of compared to last year. If this continues, the total number of referees could reach around 42,000 by the end of the season which would be a record figure.
Recruitment remains consistent, with around 10,000 new referees joining annually, about 80% of whom are aged 14 to 18. Retention is also improving, with an 82% retention rate. The challenge now is to support these younger referees through key life stages, and we’re committed to ensuring the offer of refereeing remains attractive and flexible enough to keep them engaged into their 20s and beyond.
And finally Nathan, what would you say to anyone thinking of giving refereeing a go, what skills will they learn, and how can they find out more?
Refereeing offers a unique and rewarding experience that goes far beyond the pitch. It provides opportunities to develop invaluable life skills like leadership, confidence, communication, and conflict management, all while staying active. Stepping into refereeing means learning how to manage people, make decisions under pressure, and grow personally and professionally. Many who start young find that refereeing opens unexpected doors, from local matches to global opportunities in coaching and development.
The enjoyment factor is also remarkably high, with the vast majority of our referees saying they genuinely love the role. That passion is what drives the game forward. Referees are essential, and the experience of officiating often becomes something people pass on through word of mouth. With strong support, growing demand, and an inclusive community, now is one of the best times to get involved. I’d strongly encourage anyone interested to find out more through their local County FA or The FA’s website and get involved.
Our refereeing strategy two-year review can be read below:
