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I’m refereeing a BUCS match tomorrow and have not done one before as I’m not usually available on a Wednesday lunchtime. The competition rules I’ve found online make no mention of team sheets… do they use them? Also thought it was unusual that there are not rolling subs given its grassroots...

I’m relocating to Gloucestershire in a few months. Does anybody round there know the best contact at the GFA to chat with? Also advice on what leagues to contact to join. I’d like to find somewhere for Saturday, Sunday and midweek evenings if possible. Men’s/women’s/vets/BUCs, not youth...

Sad to hear of the passing of Uriah Rennie. A true trailblazer and one of the fittest referees of his era. Thoughts with those who knew him

Well, for those of us in the UK it’s that time of year. Would love to hear a brief review of how the season went from anyone who wants to share. Overall I think it was my most confident year as a referee and that has really helped with my match control and developing a good rapport with teams...

I’m informally mentoring a 6-5 promotion candidate who has been marked down on a recent match day coach visit for not following the correct substitution procedure as he wasn’t making subs enter at the halfway line and wasn’t waiting for players to leave the FOP before allowing subs on. Fair...

Seems a bit early to me but my Sunday league is starting double headers this weekend. It’s been years since I’ve refereed one. Any general advice? I’ve always disliked them in theory because if a player gets sent off in the first game they’re allowed to play the second one… which seems like a...

Sweating the small stuff here, but I’m surprised to see the match officials wearing a near-identical blue to Newcastle’s goalkeeper, given Newcastle have a green goalkeeper kit that wouldn’t clash with blue (match officials), Newcastle (black/white), Arsenal (red/white) or the Arsenal keeper...

If a team starts with fewer than 11 players, does a late arrival named on the teamsheet need to wait for a stoppage in play to enter the field of play? Or can they enter during play, provided they have the permission of the referee? I’d have thought they need to wait for a stoppage as...

I’ve been asked to referee a schools U18 county cup match this week (asked by the school, not appointed by county FA). I haven’t refereed one before and rarely do middles for youth games. Any general advice? The online competition rules are a few years old but appears to be 40mins each way...

In the leagues I predominantly referee on, a directive is sent round this time of year reminding referees to hold a minute’s silence to mark Remembrance Day this weekend. I am not refereeing on my usual leagues this Saturday and based on how it is run (general poor administration), I imagine...

Anyone having issues submitting cards from friendlies in WGS? I can’t get anything to load up under ‘other competitions’… could’ve sworn you use to start typing ‘friendly’ or ‘xCounty FA’ and it would show up in the drop down.

I've gone to submit cautions from a pre-season match yesterday to discover that WGS seems to think I'm an 'intermediary' (football agent), rather than a referee. Has this happened to anyone else and does any know who to contact to correct this so I can submit a report?

Today marks the end of the season for me and probably a fair few of us, so here’s a bit of a season in numbers/annual review if anyone wants to add their own. Middles: 20 Lines: 5 Yellows: 80 (including 22 sin bins) Reds: 9 Postponements due to weather: 11! The good: One league cup final, one...

Hit a new personal best today with 10 yellows, one non-playing caution and a red... all on Easter Sunday. Quite an enjoyable one despite the cards. Cup game, 3-3 at the end of 90, ending 7-3 after extra time to the home team who were a couple of divisions below but on average 10 years younger...

A level 7 in my local RA has been asked to referee a friendly: A step 6 (2nd tier of a supply league) team v a step 7 team. He’s been contacted by the step 7 club rather than through an official apppintment. It’s sparked a bit of debate on WhatsApp so I was curious what anyone else thought...

I’ve been umming and ahhing about posting this as I don’t really feel the need to discuss it massively, but given all the discussion about abuse in recent days… Unfortunately after 16 years of refereeing I was assaulted for the first time last week. Nothing major and no harm done… a player...

Had the misfortune of refereeing a team who were out to get me from minute 1 today. Player from said team commits a reckless challenge on the outside of his penalty area and I award the free kick thinking I’m going to hand out a yellow. He then charges at me while yelling (incoherent) and has...

Question out of curiosity for those refereeing at grassroots/park level. After sending a player off, how vigilant are you with getting them to leave the vicinity of the field of play? Or are you happy for them to hang around if there is no animosity/they’re not causing any problems/it wasn’t an...

Just got home from a well-mannered 0-0. I was AR2 and this happened on my near side, with the referee nearby with a clear view. In approx the 80th min the keeper collects the ball on the floor in the penalty area after a bit of a scramble following a corner. The keeper stands up and offers...

Hi all - I haven't posted on here for a long time but thought I'd make a return. I've moved back to the UK from Australia after five years away. I refereed while Down Under but things were a little different... and I'll be back on the pitch here when lockdown ends. Any changes I should be...