Promotions

Three Wiltshire Referees have been promoted by the Football Association to become Level 4 Supply Referees from the start of the 2017-18 season.

Kristian Guyatt (Salisbury), Shane Mansfield (Chippenham) and Paul March (Marlborough) are the three successful referees and they shall be moving from referee in the Wiltshire Senior League to refereeing in either the Hellenic League, Wessex League or Western League Division 1.

During the 2016-17 season these referees were required to referee a minimum of 20 open age games and line on 10 further matches.  During this time they were observed by Senior Referees who helped with their development and marked their performance.  Kristian, Shane and Paul all successfully met the criteria and were recommended by the Wiltshire FA for promotion.

On hearing the news, Wiltshire FA RDO Kevin Small commented “I am delighted that these three referees have been promoted.  They have worked hard during the season and on behalf of their Refereeing colleagues we all wish them well for their first season in supply football.  They now need to work hard over the coming weeks to ensure their fitness levels remain high so they pass the FA fitness test during the summer”.

We are also pleased to hear the news that former Wiltshire FA referee Declan Brown (now at Manchester) was also promoted to level 4 and we wish him well.

Top Appointment

Simon Hooper has been appointed as the referee for the Sky Bet League One Play-Off Final between Bradford City and Millwall.

Wiltshire's only Select Group 2 referee will take charge of the game being played at Wembley Stadium on Saturday 20th May.  Simon is regularly seen on TV refereeing the top teams into the Sky Bet Championship and this appointment is a great honour.

The Wiltshire FA would like to congratulate Simon on his appointment and we wish him an enjoyable game.  He is the second Wiltshire Referee to take charge of a League One Play-Off Final.  Roger East refereed the Huddersfield Town v Sheffield United game in 2012, jut before he was appointed to the Premier Select Group of referees.  Lets hope a similar fate awaits Simon.