We are pleased to introduce the Bedfordshire FA Referee Academy for the 2023-2024 season.

The Bedfordshire FA Referee Academy is a group focused on supporting referees between the ages of 14 and 18. The referees will be provided with training events as well as the opportunity to referee development fixtures under the watchful eye of our team of mentors throughout the course of the season. 

Over the past two weeks, we have hosted two events for the group. The first meeting was on Wednesday 18th October 2023 at Cranfield Pavilion where the referees got to meet their colleagues as well as participate in some activities based around the laws of the game, communication, and decision-making.

The referees were able to put all of the things they learned into practice on Wednesday 25th October when they were invited to officiate the Bedfordshire FA ETC & GDC Fixture Festivals held at Flitwick Football Centre. The referees officiated games between Bedfordshire FA, Ipswich Town, Stevenage, AFC Dunstable, and Wootton Rangers Youth, receiving feedback and support from three matchday mentors. All of the officials involved in the Festival worked extremely hard and helped to facilitate an excellent day of football.

We are also pleased to announce a partnership with Luton Town FC Academy where the referees will officiate matches on a Sunday morning. This will be an excellent challenge for the referees where they can learn and develop in a safe environment.

We are looking forward to our upcoming training events with the academy referees which are taking place soon. In the meantime, the referees will continue to receive support from our development team at their fixtures around the county.

If you are interested in joining the Referee Academy for the future please contact: Isaac.Blakey@BedfordshireFA.com