Cumberland FA is pleased to announce its County CORE Group dates for season 2022/23, and to confirm National List Referee Bobby Madden as a guest speaker for our session on Monday 22 August. 

This is an in-house refereeing development programme for specifically selected match officials. It’s an invite-only event, organised for promising Level 7, 6, 5 and 4 officials, and is a pre-requisite to the FA CORE programme (via nomination).

The group features regular guest speakers from the world of football and is supported by CFA senior match officials, including: 

• National List Referees Anthony Backhouse and Bobby Madden
• National List Assistant Referee Kevin Mulraine
• Step 1 Assistant Referee Scott Taylor
• Step 2 Referee John Mulligan

SESSION DETAILS

Venue: CFA Office, Cockermouth

Time: Sign-in from 6.45pm for a prompt 7pm start (approx. 9pm finish)

Mon 22nd August 2022 – with Bobby Madden
Mon 26th September 2022 - with Colin Webster, FA CORE & PGMOL Observer
Mon 31st October 2022 - with Ed Duckworth, FA National Referee Manager
Mon 28th November 2022 - Ross Joyce, North Riding FA Referee Development Manager
Mon 23rd January 2023 - Matt Sowerby, Northumberland FA Referee Development Officer
Mon 27th February 2023
Mon 27th March 2023
Mon 24th April 2023
Mon 22nd May 2023

Guest Speakers: TBC

Dress Code: CFA Polo Shirt/Warm-up Top, Tracksuit, Trainers. No Jeans

Scott Taylor, Cumberland FA Referee Development Officer, said: “The Cumberland FA County CORE Group aim to meet every month for specific training and development. 

“We believe this helps to prepare them for their next level of refereeing. The programme is predominately for CFA match officials aged between 16-24 with the addition of a couple of older referees who are either already Level 4 (Step 5/6 referees) or part of the Cumberland FA referee promotion process. 

“One specific aim of the County CORE Group is to support match officials in their transition from youth football into open age football. The County CORE Group works hard to identify and accommodate the needs of referees to ensure that they are adequately equipped to referee in open age football.

“We are looking forward to kicking the new season off with newly transferred SPL (and ex-FIFA) referee Bobby Madden being our August guest speaker. Bobby has joined the Cumberland FA from the Scottish FA and will complement our team if very experienced County CORE Group Coaches who help organise and provide support to prepare match officials for supply league and semi-professional football. Referees who progress through to Level 4 really benefit from this advice. 

“On occasion, a Match Day Developer will attend a match, giving guidance on a bespoke level, and provide a brief report following a match viewing. At the end of each season exceptional candidates are selected to become involved in The FA CORE national programme by a nomination process.”

To learn more about refereeing in Cumberland, please CLICK HERE