2025 FA Referee Recognition Awards

Nominate a referee by clicking here

Nominations are now open for the 2025 FA Referee Recognition Awards, so take some time out of your day to put forward a match official who does a great job locally.

The FA would like your help in recognising referees’ unique contribution to football, and to show our appreciation for their dedication to our game, our clubs, and our communities.

Nominate a referee who’s impressed you this season, and they could carry home one of nine prestigious awards in the Referee Recognition Awards 2025.

• Outstanding Contribution to Refereeing
  We’re looking for someone who helps create a positive football environment. They’ll have made a significant contribution to Refereeing through their support, involvement, encouragement, or in other ways
  
  
• Lifetime Achievement
  We’re looking for someone who’s helped create a legacy of sustainably improved outcomes for individuals, communities, and the wider population. This lifetime achievement award recognises their positive influence in the development, administration and servicing of Refereeing
  Note: This award should be considered as one of the highest honours within Refereeing
  
  
• Refereeing in the Community
  We’re looking for an individual, group or initiative whose actions, empathy, unstinting support or effort has significantly helped their community. They’ll be someone that referees relate to, rely on, or seek advice from…perhaps while suffering adversity themselves. They may help normalise mental health conversations, and signpost to relevant support. They may have promoted Refereeing to historically underrepresented communities
  
  
• Newcomer of the Year
  We’re looking for someone who’s brought exceptional talents, skills and potential to Refereeing during their first year of involvement. They’ll have had a meaningful impact with significant personal development while being new to Refereeing
  Note: The Judging Panel would be particularly pleased to hear directly from young people
  
  
• Inspirational Role Model
  We’re looking for someone who’s demonstrated exceptional leadership, integrity, and dedication to their community. They’ll have served as positive and inspiring example for others, and had a meaningful impact on the lives of others
  Note: The Judging Panel would be particularly pleased to hear directly from people from historically underrepresented groups
  
  
• Championing Diversity
  We’re looking for someone who’s championed equality, diversity and inclusion in Refereeing. They’ll have demonstrated a holistic and long-term commitment to equality. They’ll also have delivered progress in creating a diverse and inclusive environment through targeted interventions and programmes
  
  
• Positive Environment
  We’re looking for a team, club or league who’ve consistently shown exceptional levels of care and support towards Match Officials, and show respect at all times. They’ll have helped cultivate a positive, safe environment for the Refereeing community to learn, grow and develop
  
  
• Refereeing Volunteer Support of the Year
  We’re looking for someone who’s demonstrated outstanding dedication, commitment and service as a volunteer. They’ll have given their time and energy to support a cause, organisation, or community, and had a significant and measurable impact on the Referee community
  Note: We welcome nominations from the observer, mentor, coaching or appointing workforce and parent/carers of the volunteer
  
  
• Club Recognition Award
  We’re looking for clubs to nominate someone who’s shown exceptional performance and dedication in officiating their games. This award recognises the contributions of Referees who consistently display a high level of skill, fairness, and professionalism
  Note: This award is nominated by a team or club

You can nominate as many referees in as many categories as you wish. Just tell us why you think they should win.

Nominations close at 11.59pm on Saturday 22 March 2025