Worcestershire Football Association and The Ref Stop have announced a new 2-year partnership to support the grassroots referee workforce across the county.

The Ref Stop will support our Referee Development Officer by becoming the provider for course resources to all new Trainee referees. The use of their quality matchday equipment will enhance the in-game experience for newly qualified referees. In addition, support from The Ref Stop will allow us to continue to retain our ever-growing referee workforce, by offering exclusive discounts and prizes throughout the season to reward their valued commitment to officiating in Worcestershire.

Our Referee Development Officer, Jack Shepherd, said: “I’m delighted that we have agreed this partnership between Worcestershire FA and The Ref Stop, which will allow us to continue to support and reward our match officials for their continued commitment to refereeing throughout the county. I look forward to working with them to help us achieve our future targets in refereeing within Worcestershire and continue to drive referee development in the county.”

Lyndsay Riding, Partnerships Manager of The Ref Stop, said: "We’re thrilled to embark on this partnership with Worcestershire FA to support the next generation of referees. By providing essential matchday equipment and exclusive benefits, we aim to enhance the experiences of Worcestershire’s officials, from their initial training to their development as skilled match officials. We can’t wait to see how this partnership shapes refereeing within the county."

If you are interested in becoming a partner of Worcestershire FA, we have a range of packages available for organisations who can add value to local football.

Our Chief Operating Officer, Ollie Williams, added: “We are committed to putting more resource back into grassroots football than ever before by working with organisations who share our aims and objectives. This is being done with the introduction of additional benefits to being affiliated with Worcestershire FA and is a key part of our new 4-year strategy for 2024-28. We would love to hear from other organisations who can contribute to the growth and development of local football.”

You can express your interest in working with Worcestershire FA by emailing us: support@worcestershirefa.com