The Ref Stop

THE FA NO LONGER PROVIDING FREE KIT FOR LEVEL 2, 3 OR 4s

G

grey59

New Member
Level 3W Referee
Following The FA's email to all level 2-4s today announcing that the free kit provided will no longer be happening for the upcoming season, I wanted to point those interested in the direction of https://www.afarefereeshop.com/shop where you can get the new shirt and shorts for under £60!
 
The Ref Stop
MarcusSFARef said:
Would anyone be able to provide the full email sent out please?
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Here ya go... (with attachments)

Good morning,

Following a full review by The FA Refereeing Department, a difficult decision has been taken to cease the issuing of match day referee shirts and midlayer warm-up tops with immediate effect.

By way of context, these items were initially introduced a number of years ago for all match officials within the National League System. More recently, newly promoted referees have been provided with kit at each promotion cycle (January and June). The overall outlay has totalled c£200,000.

Over the past couple of seasons, the department has made significant investment across all areas of continuous professional development (CPD). This includes the introduction of an online learning platform, increased face-to-face CPD opportunities, and for the first time a summer roadshow programme, offering practical training and development to referees and assistant referees across the country. In addition, there has been a substantial increase in match day coaching, online one-to-one support, as well as dedicated fitness, nutrition and wellbeing support initiatives.

With this in mind, the decision has been taken that continued investment in these areas represents a more impactful use of resources, directly supporting performance and development both on and off the field for match officials within the National League System. We appreciate this may be disappointing but hope you understand the rationale behind this decision.

On a more positive note, following extensive consultation with the National League System Leagues’ Committee, we are pleased to confirm that fee and expense increases have been agreed across both the men’s and women’s game. This forms part of a three-year plan to ensure match officials are appropriately rewarded. Further details on the revised rates will be shared in the coming months, ahead of the new season.

To support you moving forward, we have worked with The Ref Stop to develop kit guidance for match officials at Steps 2–6 of the men’s pathway and Tiers 3 & 4 of the women’s pathway (Women’s National League). As a reminder, The FA’s expected kit remains Nike, in line with our long-term commercial agreement.

The Ref Stop have kindly provided an optional online shop where you can purchase suitable products. You are, of course, free to purchase Nike kit from any supplier of your choosing, this is simply an additional option available to you.

Please see below link to access:
FA NLS Store Products - The Ref Stop

We hope this update provides clarity as we approach the 2026/27 season.

Best wishes for the remainder of the summer, and good luck with your upcoming fitness tests.

Kind regards,

The Refereeing Department
The FA Group
Address: Wembley Stadium, PO Box 1966, London, SW1P 9EQ
https://www.englandfootball.com/participate/referees
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Attachments

grey59 said:
Following The FA's email to all level 2-4s today announcing that the free kit provided will no longer be happening for the upcoming season, I wanted to point those interested in the direction of https://www.afarefereeshop.com/shop where you can get the new shirt and shorts for under £60!
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Also, I go to Pro Direct Sport for the Nike training wear. Pricing is way lower for the polo, drill top, full tracksuit etc.
 
I find kicklocker the cheapest, New ref Nike top about £36.

Just wondering how many will buy the new Nike kit or just carry on using the current kit from 2024-25 season?
 
£200,000 is a lot of money, though disappointing for all those concerned who now have to buy their own kit. The FA are already looking to recruit many more Match Day Coaches for L2-6 which will assist with their costings (rightly or wrongly).
 
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DavidObs said:
£200,000 is a lot of money, though disappointing for all those concerned who now have to buy their own kit. The FA are already looking to recruit many more Match Day Coaches for L2-6 which will assist with their costings (rightly or wrongly).
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My concern is it jobs for the boys. I think it a shame newly promoted L4 don't get a new ref kit and top any more.
 
Egg man said:
My concern is it jobs for the boys. I think it a shame newly promoted L4 don't get a new ref kit and top any more.
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I do too with kit, but it is what it is. As to your concern, if we don’t trust the process then there is no hope for development/what the FA are attempting to achieve which is to improve the standard of Refereeing at the top of the ladder eg EFL/Premier League. There is no evidence that I can find that it’s a job for the boys or girls & I have been affected in a negative way from the changes already made with scouts replacing observers at L2. I am still not happy about it because it took me many years to get to that level, but on the other hand, it’s what the FA want/still want to do, despite the instigator now having moved on to the USA.
 
Remember that the FA are a not-for profit organisation, that £200,000 has to be taken from somewhere else such as CFA budgets, coach development budgets, etc. People often point at the wealth in the English game, but that is all with the EPL not the FA. It absolutely should be redistributed better, but the undeniable fact is that for a NFP organisation to spend money in one place they have to reduce spending somewhere else.
 
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