From the heart of the action, to the centre of the stage. Let's celebrate our amazing referees! We're urging local grassroots football participants to ensure local match officials are represented with nominations for the 2024 Referee Recognition Awards.

The awards are an opportunity to turn the spotlight on fantastic Essex referees, recognising their unique contribution to football and showing appreciation for their dedication to their game, clubs and communities. Nominations are welcome for referees who’ve impressed this season, and they could receive one of nine prestigious awards.

Anyone can nominate as many referees, in as many categories as they want. Essex County FA Referee Development Manager, Lukas Wood, hopes for as many nominations as possible from the local area: “We’re fortunate to have a great number of very talented and dedicated local referees. Last year, Essex match officials received national recognition through these awards, and it would be fantastic if we were able to achieve this again in 2024. Get nominating!”

Nomination Categories

Outstanding Contribution to Refereeing Award: England Football are 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 Award: England Football would like to find 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.

Refereeing in the Community Award: England Football are looking for an individual, group or initiative whose actions, empathy, unstinting support or effort have significantly helped their community. They’ll be someone referees relate to, rely on or seek advice from… perhaps while suffering adversity themselves. They may help normalise mental health conversations, signpost to relevant support and/or promote refereeing to historically underrepresented communities.

Newcomer of the Year Award: England Football would like to find 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. The Judging Panel would be particularly pleased to hear directly from young people.

Inspirational Role Model Award: Do you know someone who’s demonstrated exceptional leadership, integrity and dedication to their community? They’ll have served as a positive and inspiring example for others, and had a meaningful impact on the lives of others. The Judging Panel would be particularly pleased to hear directly from people from historically underrepresented groups.

Championing Diversity Award: England Football would like to find 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 Award: England Football are looking for a team, club or league who’ve consistently shown exceptional levels of care and support towards match officials, and who 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 Award: England Football would like to find 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. England Football welcome nominations from the observer, mentor, coaching or appointing workforce and parent/carers of the volunteer.

Club Recognition Award: England Football are 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. This award is nominated by a team or club.

Make your nomination/s for the Referee Recognition Awards 2024 by following this link. You can also interact with us via the @EssexCountyFA and @EssexReferees accounts on Twitter/X, and by searching for ‘EssexFootball’ and ‘EssexReferees’ on Facebook.