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Published 23 May 2026 4 min read
Refereeing

Referee Recognition Awards 2026

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FA Refereeing

Match officials from across England were honoured for their work and dedication at the annual Referee Recognition Awards powered by the Ref Stop at the National Football Museum in Manchester on Friday night

INSPIRED? BE A REFEREE

The 2026 Referee Recognition Awards brought together the refereeing community from across the country for an evening of celebration, reflection and recognition.

Hosted by renowned broadcaster Charlotte Richardson, the ceremony featured a number of categories to honour the dedication, resilience, and passion of match officials at every level of the game, from grassroots to the global stage.

PGMO Chief Refereeing Officer Howard Webb and PGMO Select Group Women’s Professional Game manager Rebecca Welch were both in attendance to present awards.

Award Winners

Championing Diversity - Ali Wilson

Ali was rewarded thanks to the pivotal role he has played in developing the FA's first Dyspraxia Referee Course.

Refereeing in the Community - George Corrie

George is supporting and inspiring referees across all levels with his CPD delivery and support of Level 7 and 6 referees on the pathway.

Outstanding Contribution to Refereeing - Matthew Whalley

Matthew is renowned for this consistency, fairness and calm authority on the pitch.

Lifetime Achievement Award - Melvyn Deighton

At 75 years old, Melvyn is still refereeing on a weekly basis and has supported and guided countless referees for many years.

Club Recognition - Lené Liscoe

Lené was recognised for her positive presence and her excellent communication skills.

Inspirational Role Model - Stuart Nixon

Stuart's story captivated the audience on the evening. After having a heart attack in July 2025, Stuart received two rounds of CPR and was told he was dead for four minutes.

However, Stuart was desperate to get back onto the pitch and was refereeing again just five weeks later.

Rebecca Welch was in attendance to present awards to our winners
Rebecca Welch was in attendance to present awards to our winners

Volunteer of the Year Award - Neil Holman

Neil has given over 40 years to refereeing and volunteering, particularly at Buckingham Youth FC where he works with young referees and passes on his vast experience.

Positive Environment Award - Falmouth Community Youth FC Purple Army

The Purple Army has placed young people at the heart of refereeing and actively promotes respect, responsibility and confidence through mentoring and match experiences.

Newcomer of the Year - Lauryn Griffiths

Skilled at balancing decisions under pressure, Lauryn has had a great start to her refereeing career and has become an excellent role model in her community.

In addition to the winners, there was a special mention for Highly Commended individuals in the following categories:

  • Refereeing in the Community - Ali Wilson
  • Club Recognition - Jessica Wheeler
  • Inspirational Role Model - Dillon Buckley & Amelia Sagnella
  • Volunteer of the Year - Matthew Bell
  • Positive Environment - Croxley Green FC & Westmorland League
  • Newcomer of the Year - Keira Smith

 

 

Ref Stop Bravery in Action Award

One of the highlights of the evening was hearing the stories from the three winners of the Ref Stop Bravery in Action Award, which celebrates amazing courage and action by referees in emergency situations.

Rob Giles

Rob stayed administered life-saving CPR to a boy who had collapsed on the pitch. Rob’s action saved his life.

Ben Houghton

Ben was alerted to a member of a nearby tennis club who had suffered a cardiac arrest. Ben was there immediately to administer CPR and use a defibrillator until an ambulance arrived. His composure was truly commendable.

Michael McDonagh

Drawing on St John Ambulance and Network Rail training, Michael sustained CPR for 20 minutes on a collapsed goalkeeper, which helped save his life.

Everybody took a moment to remember trailblazing referee Uriah Rennie
Everybody took a moment to remember trailblazing referee Uriah Rennie

FA Special Recognition and International Caps

Whilst the Referee Recognition Awards focusses primarily on grassroots match officials, the Referee Recognition Awards was a great chance to honour referees who have reached the pinnacle of the game.

FA Special Recognition Award - Peter Jones

Peter worked his way from grassroots to the Premier League and FIFA list and now supporting officials with his experience and coaching across Leicestershire and Rutland. ⚽

International Caps

Darren Cann

One of English football’s most accomplished assistant referees, since starting out in Norfolk in 1991, Darren has gone on to referee the FIFA World Cup and UEFA Champions League Final.

Lee Betts

One of the Premier League’s most experienced assistant referees, Lee has taken part in over 400 Premier League fixtures and represented England in international competition around the world.

Darren Drysdale

Darren began his career in 1988 and has since officiated hundreds of matches across the Football League, as well as taking charge of European and international fixtures.

His three-decade career is defined by consistency and professionalism

Congratulations to all the award recipients at the Referee Recognition Awards 2026

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