Referee and coach workshops with FIFA and Premier League referee, Sam Barrott, and Millwall FC Head of Coaching, Dan Mlinar, will take place before the BBC Essex Senior Cup Final on Tuesday 18th March at Colchester United FC, and the booking window is now open.

It’ll be more than just a hugely-anticipated match at the JobServe Community Stadium as we once again stage the popular workshops, plus the FA Cup silverware will also be in attendance, providing an incredible photo opportunity!

Places are now available to book, subject to availability, and parking and a match ticket are included in the £15 booking cost. Both events will run from 6:15-7:30pm, with the match kicking-off at 7:45pm. All attendees are invited to enjoy the match from the West Stand after their workshop has concluded. Registration for both events closes at 1:00pm on Tuesday 11th March.

Referees Workshop: Before the big match, we’ll be joined by FIFA and Select Group One Referee, Sam Barrott, to share his knowledge and experiences as well as advice on how to progress, develop and improve your refereeing skills.

Sam started refereeing on the Huddersfield Junior League and in his career to date, he’s refereed the West Riding FA Senior County Cup Final (2018) and the National League North Play-Off Final (2020), plus the English Football League (EFL) League One Play-Off Final between Bolton Wanderers and Oxford United (2024).

During the workshop, you can hear about Sam’s journey from grassroots football through to the professional game, as well as taking in his development session on communication, followed by a question-and-answer forum. Click here to book online.

Coaches Workshop: Join us for ‘Coaching Insights’ with Dan Mlinar, the Head of Coaching at Millwall FC. Dan, born and brought up in Chelmsford, is a current UEFA ‘A’ License holder who has amassed a wealth of experience on his coaching journey. Hear Dan’s views on player development... this is not a workshop to miss out on!

His experiences, to name a few, include being the current Head of Coaching and former Youth Development Phase Lead at Millwall, Under 17s Coach with the England Women’s national team and Women’s Academy Manager at West Ham United FC. This event is open to all coaches (no qualification necessary), and it contributes towards accredited FA CPD (Continuing Professional Development) hours for Level 1-4 coaches. Click here to book online.

Booking links for a limited number of places on these CPD workshops can be found above. You can also interact with us on social media to stay up-to-date. Registration for these events closes at 1:00pm on Tuesday 11th March. Please note that Sam Barrott’s attendance is pending international appointments.