For Ref's Sake! - The podcast for football referees everywhere!: Recent Episodes
Wayne Chalmers
The UK's number one refereeing podcast! Join us for referee chats with referees, football people and more! Get involved by emailing us at northamptonshirereferees@gmail.com
Hosted by Wayne Chalmers and Luke Scott, we have refereeing debate, fun features and more! Released every Tuesday, join us every week for a listen!
This week we talk to Ian Rathbone about the Man City v Arsenal game before we asked if mental health is overlooked in football refereeing? We discuss visualisation and meditation amongst other things. We get the usual excellent quotes from Mr Rathbone. Tune in and leave your feedback on our social media pages.
In this episode we explore three key questions - will the fast-tracking of ex-professionals be a success? Do we worry too much about the positioning of referees? Is the refereeing pyramid fit for purpose?
We also discuss the week's incidents in the Premier League and Kieran Clarke joins us on the quiz! How far can he climb the ladder?
We switch to our pub-style format this week. Should club assistants be trusted with offside decisions? Why are we seeing a shortage of officials at Step 5? What makes a good referee coach? We explore these themes and more alongside guest co-host Gav Mack!
We introduce our new quiz called 'The 100 Club' and chat all things refereeing from the weekend. We find out what the boys have been up to over the Summer break and look forward to the season ahead!
Another incredible episode as we bring the season to an end! Ruebyn talks to us about his rise through the ranks and how those close to him have inspired him to get to where he is today. A great way to finish the season!
Whatever words we put here would not do justice to the story of Rubeyn Ricardo. Have a listen to the story. The journey. We were privileged to talk to him about his early career and how he overcame some life-changing situations...
Stacey Fullicks was establishing herself on the WSL when injury struck. Learn in this episode how she returned to action following much dedication and hard work. She is joined by her refereeing husband Richard who talks about his journey on the women's pathway.
Dean took up the option of taking on a 'Nene League' Course and loved it so much that he is refereeing mornings and afternoons in adult football. How did he get into refereeing and what gives him that 'buzz' when he picks up the whistle?
Dedicating his life to local football and supporting grassroots has led to Richard finally making the leap to becoming a qualified referee in his mid 50s. But now that journey is being extended as he has applied for promotion to level 5. What made Richard join the refereeing ranks and why does the self-confessed connoisseur of podcasts rate ours so highly? Listen to his story here.
With the number of referees in the youth ranks, there are a number of referees who are reluctant to make the next step. However, after just a couple of years in youth football, and at the tender age of 16, Tom has made the step into the adult game. What made him make the jump and what are his hopes for the future?
A couple of weeks ago we called out the admin of Whitworths FC for bashing a referee! Did we think he would come on? No! But here he is talking refereeing, what he would like to see and how social media can play its part. A great chat and proof that we can all work together in football!
Wayne Chalmers never wanted to be a referee but 25 years later, he is still loving being involved in football. He talks about his journey in football and how the loss of his daughter Daisy in 2018, impacted his mindset and set him on the way to creating his own charity. He shares some amazing stories and how the friendships he made kept him going through the hardest of times.
A few months ago , Mateo was on the 5-4 pathway in Northamptonshire. Fast forward and he is in the 43 degree heat of Perth, Western Australia. He is already making waves by joining a development group but how does his refereeing differ from the UK? Find out in this episode!
Finn White was your average teenage referee. Wanting to pick up a few quid for pocket money before realising that picking up the whistle was a passion. Finn discusses his journey from mini-soccer to now passing on his own advice to fellow referees. He also talks about the tough decision about playing and refereeing and deciding which one will take precedence. Eventually!
Jake Sharpe plays Sunday football in Northamptonshire but his day job is talking football and sometimes that includes refereeing. This week he joins us to talk about grassroots referees and his thoughts on how refereeing could be improved on a local and national level. Jake also works for BBC Northampton and rubs shoulders with Pete Walton on a regular basis. What has he learnt and what are his thoughts on all things football?
After some gentle persuasion, Gav Mack returns to the podcast. We spoke to Gav in Season 1 when he was an ex-referee and now he has returned... and he has a whistle in his mouth (not during the interview). Gav talks to us about why he has returned and how his outlook on refereeing has changed since the first time he pulled on the shirt! As usual, the boys also discuss all the latest talking points in refereeing too.
Callum has been involved in football for many years and now has moved onto big things with the FA. However, he was tempted to take up the whistle and now he has his sights set on promotion. He is also great at losing his whistle!
Don't just book it, Thomas Cooke it! This week we are talking to the beautiful specimen that is Tom Cooke. He started off as a goalkeeper, taking it America on his travels and ended up as a National List Assistant, a little by accident. He talks to us about his future aspirations and the changes he made to get to the level he is operating at now.
Dan reached Level 4 at an early age and reached level 2B some years later. So what convinced him to become a specialist assistant and sacrifice that opportunity of moving forward as the man in the middle? Dan talks about having a certain Mr Scott as an assistant in the early days and how he has used his own mindset to make it up to the Select Group 2. He gives us tips and thoughts about how performance can be improved. Thanks to Dan for joining us!
Coming from great football 'stock,' Oakley Major-Howard has taken up the whistle to learn more about the laws of the game. But now refereeing plays a huge part in his life and with support from his family, he is flourishing. Oakley talks about the benefits he has found in his life from refereeing and his Mum Polly joins us to talk about the support and networks Oakley has built from his time in the middle. Another interesting perspective from a Northamptonshire official.
At the age of 58, most officials are considering hanging up the whistle. But then we meet Mick Matthews. Mick's football career saw him banging in the goals at local level before becoming club assistant for Blisworth. A few years later he was tempted to take up the whistle legitimately and now spends most of his weekend supporting grassroots football from the middle of a football pitch. What inspired him to do this? Find out this week!
We welcome back Andy Humphries onto series 2. During our previous chat, Andy was a level 2B. Fast forward 12 months and he is enjoying life on the National League Prem. But what were the changes he made to get there and how is he finding life at the level? An open and honest chat that every aspiring referee should listen to. The boys also have plenty to talk about from the weekend's shenanigans and question if club marks are fit for purpose.
Sam O'Sullivan-Barker tried refereeing 10 years ago and ended up being assaulted. Fast forward to 2024 and he is a coach, a broadcaster and now, thanks in part to the Nene League, has taken the steps to becoming a match official. What made him do it and how did his first venture into refereeing adult football go?
When a player is sick of being a substitute but wants to get into refereeing, they take their chance and accept an offer they can't refuse. A few years later and Jamie Stevenson is refereeing regularly around the country and making strides in the game. He talks to us about his journey so far, how he has recently worked hard on his fitness and the improvements it has made to his game and his aspirations for the future.
When you decide to stop refereeing at the age of 39 because of a heart issue, what do you do next? Feet up? Take it easy. Not Darren. Darren got out his trainers and started on a diet of half-marathons, marathons and ultras! Alongside this, Darren is an observer on the National League and chats us through the commitment needed to develop the referees of the future as well as the tips he recommends to improve as a match official! A great listen!
Following on from last week, we are joined once again by Mr Dean Whitestone - SG2 referee and Northamptonshire legend. Following on from the first part where he discussed his journey to the professional game, Dean talks about how he has stayed at the top and how he still harbours ambitions to reach the Premier League of referees. Another great listen!
Merry Christmas to you all! We have made it! Episode 50 and we are so lucky to be joined by the one and only Dean Whitestone! What a terrific episode and chat we had with this legend. 500 EFL appearances says everything you need to know but how did he get there? What can we do as match officials to achieve what Deano has? Have a listen and share your feedback!
The boys discuss all of the weekend's events including the Dalot red card and the events in Turkey that have marred football this week. They are also joined by Gavin Muge. Gavin is an ex-National League referee and EFL assistant who has recently published a book called 'My Life on the Line.' He talks about his career and how he came about getting a book deal at the first attempt! Episode 49 is another cracker!
Back again for epsiode 17 and we are joined by the one and only Mr Gary Capps. 'Cappo' is renowned across the county for his man-management and passion for football. He gives his views on how football has changed over the years and how it reflects a breakdown in society. Luke and Wayne also discuss the incidents from the weekend involving Arsenal and Liverpool and also discuss the recent episode with Ian Rathbone and how they are starting to implement it into practice.
This week we have the pleasure of being joined by IAN RATHBONE. A legend in Northants refereeing circles, he offers advice and thoughts around being a successful match official. He delves into mindset and how that 1% can make a massive difference. You do not want to miss this episode! Ian worked his way up from playing local football to officiating in the Football League. He talks about desire, dedication and self-improvement. A remarkable chat.
Phoebe Horner followed in the footsteps of her father in taking up the whistle. Following rapid progression, she now finds herself at Level 4 on the male pathway. However, she is also smashing through the female pathway which led to refereeing in front of 6000+ spectators at AFC Bournemouth recently. Find out here what the experience was all about!
We train a lot physically but do we train mentally? We are joined for a very interesting chat by Ady Brawn, a sports psychologist who discusses what we need to do to mentally prepare for match and game situations. He offers advice on a range of different techniques that can be used to our benefit! Have a listen and let us know what you think!
What can we do about youth football and what does it take to organise everything that goes into it? We speak to club secretary Nick 'Stan' Inwood and NDYAL Referee Secretary Chris Rowland. They discuss the issues they have found within youth football and consider how they think things can be changed. We also discuss the incidents from the past week .
This week we discuss all the major incidents from the weekend and even disagree with some of them! Our special guest this week is the one and only Wayne Bright who talks us through his progression from referee to observer. What is even more special is that in between this, Wayne had a cardiac arrest and 'died' for 50 minutes. Luckily, his son and the local nurse saved his life and with the support of his wife Natalie, he is back in the game. An inspirational story!
We are back for episode 11 and we are joined by our friends from the NPTN podcast! Sam and Jordan talk to us about football, refereeing and announce that we will be joining their new radio show on Shire Sounds! Exciting news!
Episode 10 sees us welcome Aaron Lloyd who is the new co-lead of NFA Core. He talks us through how it is to be on there and the commitment needed alongside the support that is on offer. We also look at the level of local football and whether the promotion scheme is fair. Harley Collyer also has a go at the quiz. Can she save the reputation of the NFA?
A packed episode for you to listen to this week. All of the usual debate around the weekend's decisions and then we are joined by STUART BURT who will be talking to us all about training, preparation and mental health in football. A really interesting chat about what goes into being a Premier League official. Oh. And we have some bloke called Gavin McFarlane.
Another cracking episode with an international flavour...Wales! We are very lucky to be joined by Kim Fisher, FIFA International referee, coach and developer of referees. Don't miss out on the Scotty rants as he gets very excited about the weekend's action! Join us on our socials to let us know what you think!
We are back! We are joined by Scott Carlin from Cogenhoe United who gives us an insight into his footballing career and his expectations of referees. We also have 'A Minute to Win it' with Jamie Stevenson and as usual we unpick the weekend football! Now click on subscribe and give us a listen!
This week we are joined by David Avent. Dave has recently retired from Football League duty at the age of 35 but what has convinced him to give up his position so soon? Tune in and find out what actually happened with the disallowed penalty at Newcastle United and how this impacted the rest of his career.
A great episode of refereeing chat and discussion. Can social media improve your refereeing? We have Perry Gascoine joining us fresh from the IBSA World Cup Final! What an emotional and inspiring interview! We also have the quiz! Can we remove Luke Scott from the top of the leaderboard? Tune in to find out!
Part 2 of the Woolmer experience. How did he get to the top of the game? What are the future plans? We are chatting all about the incidents over the weekend and in particular the Newcastle v Liverpool game. We have Harry Price on a Minute to Win it but he also gives us a brief insight about his National League debut!
An absolute beauty of an episode! We chat about the Women's World Cup Final, we invite referee Joe England on to try and take Luke's crown on our quiz and we have the Northants refereeing G.O.A.T Andy Woolmer joining us for what is a great insight into how he go to the upper echelons of the game!
We are back with the second episode of the series. Lots to talk about this week with a lot of discussion around timekeeping and how the key stakeholders of the game are reacting to the shift in the mood of football. We also have Ben Pateman on the show. He discusses his transition in attitude and how football differs from ice hockey! We also have our new 'gameshow' called 'A Minute to Win it! Tune in!
A brief comeback episode where the boys will be discussing the Summer and what they have been up to! They will also discuss the current refereeing topics of timekeeping and the increase in cautions! They will also outline the plans for the season and introduce the new game called 'A Minute to Win it!' We now release every Tuesday so make sure you subscribe on all the usual platforms!
We made it! Episode 31 of the first season and our little break is now here! We talk about the Europa League final and the FA Cup final and the handball law! We also talk to Olly Mackey about his first season in charge of the referees in Northants and also announce our seasonal awards! Finally, who will win the quiz of the year? Tune in and join us for the final countdown!
The penultimate episode of the season is a fantastic one! We are joined by Liam Bailey-Shaw of Wilby FC and Harry Price who has just been promoted to level 3. We talk about promotions, the system and the effort needed to get to the next level. Tune into episode 30!
The SMD has the week off so we have invited Harley Collyer along! Harley is in charge of women and girls football in the county but she pushed this aside to take the flag for the NTFA finals weekend. How did she get on? Tune in to find out more!
A rant about social media, the host getting pied off whilst coaching and a great chat with Joe Woolmer about his refereeing career and the impact his Dad has had and may possibly have on it going forward. An honest chat which delves into how the County need to push some of the younger referees. Join us for episode 28 and another wonderful insight into the world of Northants refereeing.
A Team Daisy special when the boys talk about the recent challenge on the Isle of Wight! There is also big news about a retirement of one of our top referees. Tune in to find out about all the teamwork it tool to complete the challenge!
A fun episode for number 26. Where is the SMD? Will Luke make it after the London Marathon? We are joined by Andy Wilson, a Contrib observer and by Adam O'Connor who takes on Six of the Best. Tune in to find out!
When will behaviour improve? Would you allow your own child to be a referee? We speak to the McLauchlan family this week. Jason is the Referee Secretary for the Weetabix League and has recently taken up the whistle. His two sons, Lewis and Rylan, are both referees too. We chat to them about their experiences. Luke and Wayne talk all about the upcoming cup finals and refereeing topics including pitch inspections! Remember to subscribe!
The boys are reunited for Episode 24 as we discuss all the incidents from the weekend. Is VAR fit for purpose? Should the same teams be receiving three apologies in the same season? Do referees try to be too clever? We discuss with Luke his incident from a midweek game. Also, we are joined by two special guests this week when we have the Fullicks, Stacey and Richard, join us to discuss their journey on the female pathway of refereeing and how we can inspire the next generation of female officials. Came and join us!
We are back for episode 23 and this time we have to bring in the sub as co-host Luke Scott is off on his travels and the SMD is celebrating her birthday! Not to worry though as we have our usual mix of mirth and ranting. Co-host makes up for Luke's absence with a few rants of his own! Special guest this week is Northamptonshire import Errol Souter who talks to us about how he has moved from player and manager to referee. Tune in and give us a like!
Another great chat with a young referee. This week we have Ralph Seckington joining us to talk about the transition from youth refereeing to adult football. We have Mr Ranty going off on one and Six of the Best with Kev Seckington. Don't forget to subscribe!
Episode 21 brings some rants about the current refereeing climate and the level of abuse in the game! Added to this, we discuss all the incidents from the weekend including the Man United v Fulham game. Our guest this week is Olly Mackey who updates us on his role with the County FA. He also discusses the future plans for refereeing in the County.
We are back with Episode 20! After a week's break, we have Joe Rich as our special guest. Joe is a local manager and talks to us all about his perception of referees and how it has changed over his career. Harry Price joins us on Six of the Best and we discuss all the latest footballing news and refereeing stories.
This week we have Alex Compton joining us. Alex is a very happy referee. He referees youth football and has little aspiration to move into adult football so what inspires and enthuses him to continue? Find out in Episode 19!
This week we are joined by two guests with Northants Telegraph reporter Jon Dunham and his newly qualified referee son Leo talking to us about VAR, refereeing and how Jon refereed his one and only game. His son Leo has already made great progress in the little time he has been refereeing and he talks to us about his future ambitions. As usual, we discuss the incidents of the weekend and rant less than we did in previous weeks. Darrell Horner joins us on Six of the Best - will he join Chris and Jamie at the top of the board?
Another cracking episode with so much packed in! We talk about the VAR decisions from the weekend and then we chatted to our good friend Seth Galia. He tells us all about his progression and about the football pyramid in Gibraltar. Really interesting. We also have Jamie Stevenson on and he tackles Six of the Best! Thank you for all of your support. Keep subscribing!
A cracker of an episode with Chris Knowles. This giant of a man discusses his transition from rugby to football and back again! A great chat and yet another insight into football refereeing!
Critic or fan? Andy Humphries joins us this week to discuss his journey from goalkeeper to National League. Who cuts Terry Whenham's toenails now he is injured? Subscribe to us to listen to all the fun and games in Northamptonshire and Malawi!
Another top episode this week as we speak to Terry Whenham! Terry has been involved in football over a number of years as player, administrator and referee. He talks about his good friend Richard Beeby and we discuss the promotion pathway and why he still loves refereeing in the Autumn of his career. We discuss Jon's question of the week and think about the lack of football that has been played recently! We also try to get back to the Number 1 spot in Malawi!
Getting to Level 3 by the age of 22. What were the secrets of getting to the level at such a young age? We also talk to Errol Souter who takes on 'Six of the Best' - will Luke maintain his streak? Don't forget to subscribe and come and visit us on our social media channels!
We are joined this week by Phoebe Horner who talks about her journey in football refereeing. Female referees are breaking down barriers in male professional football and we hear how Phoebe is working towards her promotion ambitions. We talk about the Liverpool goal from the FA Cup at the weekend and from the Cobblers game on Sky. We also meet Nathan Japp who talks us through the 20 questions. Don't forget to subscribe!
Ever wondered about the processes of being at a WORLD CUP? Listen to Stuart Burt as he talks about how he got chosen for the Brazil v Croatia game and how he found out he was coming home. An amazing insight into the mindset of a professional official!
Episode 10 and our Christmas Special! Stuart Burt has returned from Qatar and joins us in this episode and discusses the journey from youth football to the pinnacle of any match official's career. He talks about how he found out he was selected for the World Cup and the hard work and commitment he has had to give to maintain his stay on the Premier League. This exclusive extended interview will open eyes into the skills and effort needed to get to the top. We also have the Social Media Director on Six of the Best and Seth Galia is the victim of 'It's All About You Ref.'
A great episode this week. We talk to Gareth Viccars who has gone from grassroots football to the professional game. However, all is not as simple as it seems. Gareth has battle weight issues and an addiction to alcohol. He discusses both in this insightful episode. We also discuss the refereeing in the World Cup Final and the key match decisions within it! Don't forget to subscribe.
We love our podcast and this week we discuss all about us! We chat to Chris Rowland on the quiz, talk about our celebrity listener Stuart Burt and find out which ref is answering the 20 questions! Come and join us!
The boys are back with the latest episode. In the run up to Christmas they discuss holiday fixtures and whether they enjoy them or not. This week's interview is with Darrell Horner who talks about how he came from Germany all the way to Hunsbury and all that is in between. Thomas Cooke gets grilled on 'It's all about you Ref!' and Sam Lee attempts to knock Joe Woolmer off the top of the leaderboard! Join us once again for lots of fun and laughter.
In this week's episode we discuss refereeing community and how clubs look after referees so well. We highlight how we are still seeing the same faces at clubs and discuss if this is sustainable at grassroots level. We talk about the late, great Gerry Lucas who sadly passed away this week. His contribution to local football is celebrated.
Our surprise guest in 'It's all about you Ref!' is Rob Evans who answers twenty random questions. Who are his refereeing influences? Our main guest is Bev Strong, Potton United Secretary, who discusses her role and why referees get on so well with her! Finally, Joe Woolmer takes on Six of the Best, our new weekly quiz!
Episode 5 sees us talk to a Northamptonshire legend. We welcome Tony Major, a man who has invested 60 years of his life into supporting others in local football. However, this is a refereeing podcast so the questions also move towards his brief experience as a referee and the generations of his family who are staying involved in local football through officiating. An interesting chat!
Have you ever had to improvise as a referee? What have you forgotten? Have you ever refereed without a whistle? Listen to the hilarious story of Callum White who went to watch a County FA game and ended up refereeing it! We also talk to James 'Slim' Campbell about his transition from referee to observer to FA CORE Coach. He also pays a touching tribute to Barry Firmin. It's all on our weekly podcast. Make sure you subscribe on Apple and Spotify!
Why are bald referees so successful? Who is the best ginger referee at the NFA? All of the key questions are investigated in the latest episode! We also talk to new RDO Olly Mackey and discuss the career of ex-referee, broadcaster and average darts player Gav Mack.
A wonderful chat with Kev Seckington and Aaron Lloyd about their experiences and how they will go forward in their respective careers. We discuss pre-match music and consider how well pundits know the laws of the game. We also talk about referees having their faces on their cards. Is it right?
This week we talk to Chris Rowland about his role as Referee Appointing Officer for the NDYAL. We discuss how we both got into refereeing and the best grounds we have been at! Finally, we have Jamie on from the Talking Football Podcast who talks about his own expectations of referees when managing his Sunday league team.