The Ref Stop

Puma Match and training kit launched.

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Steve Fall

Steve Fall

Active Member
Level 4 Referee
Your probably all have the email - but the Puma range has launched and urrently a few discounts on https://www.therefstop.co.uk/shop/

I'm sure we will still be mainly in Nike still as I believe the Puma range is for the top levels.. "From the Premier League to Grassroots, the Pro DNA Match Kit is built for all levels. It’s the official choice of PGMOL officials for the 2025/26 season - including the Premier League, Football League, National League, Women’s Super League & Women’s Championship"
 
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The Ref Stop
Luckily we don’t wear that here but the pro version is actually horrible. Prefer the look of the grassroots version. The only good thing I can see is the base layer with pockets meaning there is finally a suitable alternative to the macron one
 
Question... as it's only PGMOL using this kit next season and The FA have another year with the old Nike kit, will we see the officials wear the old Nike kit for FA Cup games?
 
TO ALL STEP 2 – 6 NLS & LEVEL 3W MATCH OFFICIALS



I hope you are keeping well and able to enjoy a few ‘football free’ weeks as we all prepare for the 2025/26 season.



As many match officials are aware, the PGMOL have recently announced a new kit partnership with PUMA. This comes as part of the Premier League’s multi-year global partnership. Understandably this has raised questions among match officials whom operate outside the PGMOL and as the national governing body it is only appropriate that we provide guidance to all match officials within our family.



The F.A has a current partnership with Nike as the title manufacturer for all of our performance teams and match officials and has provided kit to Step 2-6 and 3W match officials. This is still active and as such all match officials operating within The FA’s remit will be expected to continue to wear the Nike kit that has been previously supplied for the 2025/26 season. This will of course be something that we continue to investigate for future seasons however we hope this communication ahead of the new season provides clarity.



As we are aware those match officials currently operating as a Step 2 Referee will have worn PGMOL kits in previous seasons, a new unbranded Nike black match shirt will be supplied for you. In addition to this, all match officials promoted from Level 5-4 and 4w-3w this summer will also receive kit in line with their colleagues.



We hope this is of assistance.



Kind regards,



Harley Hetherington | National Referee Officer
 
No doubt some of the Walking Football Referees will dip into their wallets and proudly wear the new kit! Not for me I will stick to what I am advised to wear and carry on wearing my Nike kits. New design, the grey trim and black ‘bib’ spoil the look for me otherwise it would have been okay.
 
shanew345 said:
Whats the difference between new puma dna and normal puma kit. I can't see any apart from price
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I think just the design on the shirt and maybe the DNA one has a higher quality material/slimmer fit as its for top level refs. Similar to the differences you get in football shirts that the top clubs sell nowadays
 
Aside from the fairly reasonable price, the Puma kits are awful.

Glad the FA has provided clarity that Nike remains for a further season for non professional referees, as I for one will be keeping mine
 
RefereeX said:
Question... as it's only PGMOL using this kit next season and The FA have another year with the old Nike kit, will we see the officials wear the old Nike kit for FA Cup games?
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I believe you’re right with that, it’s an FA competition

There’s also no guarantee the FA will move to Puma, they may do a new deal with Nike
 
grey59 said:
I think just the design on the shirt and maybe the DNA one has a higher quality material/slimmer fit as its for top level refs. Similar to the differences you get in football shirts that the top clubs sell nowadays
Click to expand...
As I expected, refstop have confirmed the DNA is slightly smaller in fit
 
shanew345 said:
Whats the difference between new puma dna and normal puma kit. I can't see any apart from price
Click to expand...

Don't know if the pictures have now been updated, but the normal kits don't have the same patterns on them as the Pro DNA ones do either
 
I have preordered £300 worth, however not got any personalisation. Probably going to return it all for now. Will see what I feel. Might use it for my normal grassroots games/youth, but that £300 could go towards much needed other stuff…

Anyone else already ordered it?
 
I Pre ordered the grassroots version and will probably keep it as a spare as it’s not a bad price for a full kit, even if Puma isn’t the greatest quality

Won’t be getting the jacket or drill top they are even more expensive than Nike

Following on from the Fa’s email that all step 2/6 and 5-4 promotions MUST wear Nike, I’ll be keeping it this season, I’ll probably order the Nike 25/26 training stuff too
 
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It will look an absolute mess at step 7 though where there are at least 3 options for them to wear now. It was already bad in my area with some referees wearing the old Nike kit, it will be even worse now.
 
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