For Ref's Sake! - The podcast for football referees everywhere!

You might have heard of this young lad from Kingsthorpe. What a woderful chat we had for our season finale. We were so lucky to be joined once again by Big Dog Burtie! We chatted Cobblers, the Hoggmeister and the altitudes of the USA. What a wonderful discussion we had! See you next season!

It is cup final season and we are well into the thick of it so what we need to do is celebrate the work of the volunteers! We also look at the referee preparation for cup finals as well as discussing how Middlesbrough have reacted to 'Spygate!' We get deep into referee psyche. Have you ever had anxiety before a game that was so bad, you couldn't actually sleep? How do you prepare for a...

The second part of our interview is released in this bumper episode! How did this phenomenon start? What is the future for this? David Gerson fills us in on the exciting plans he has for the future. In addition to this, we catch up on all things football refereeing. How does a Fiat 500 feature in this episode and what are the thoughts around the West Ham VAR decision? Join us for this week's f...

This week we are joined by David Gerson who is the man behind Refsneedlovetoo. In the first part of our interview, we talk about how David got into refereeing and how he feels about the refereeing system in the USA. We discuss the fundamentals of refereeing and the differences between the UK and US systems. We had a wonderful chat and some great fun along the way. What is even better is that we ev...

How can football supporters expect consistency when players cannot deliver it? On this week's pod, we look at having empathy for the game and being flexible with our approach to the game based on the need of that particular match. We continue to discuss cup final season and discover what constitutes a difficult match. Is it dangerous to have pre-conceptions and do we need to stay true to our r...

We all love refereeing right? What if refereeing was taken away from you and you could do onothing about it? What would you do? Would you just give up and accept it or chhose to fight? David Simpson chose to fight and continues to do so on a daily basis. David is now determined to get back onto the football pitch. Listen to this week's remarkable story where one man's dreams were paused as...

Whilst Luke was away on family duties, I was joined by James Campbell and Darrell Horner as we discussed all things refereeing. We talked about what refereeing talent looks like and why Level 5 can be a dangerous level. We also discuss 2nd yellows and how we can manage them better. We also introduce a new member of the FRS squad! Don't forget to follow us on the socials - see you next week!

It is cup final season and so we need to share our tips for preparing for the big game. We talk about the role of the 4th official and the importance of pre-match instructions. The usual shenanigans as Luke rants about something and Wayne discusses the need for the Cobblers to stop being rubbish. Thanks for the support everyone!

A lot of discussion this week around refereeing and the incidents from the weekend. How do you stay alert? How do you make a positive first impression? Do club marks mean anything and should those opinions always be valued? This week we dig into the grassroots game and consider how our approach can impact the 90 minutes ahead. As ever, the chat is honest and insightful and there is no mention of K...

Northants Referee Development Officer Olly Mackey joins us to discuss the Grassroots Awards where you can vote for those that you feel deserve recognition for their hard work. We discuss why the refereeing family deserve the plaudits for all of the hard work they do and how you can get involved! We also discuss the big games of the week and discuss big Kev and his shoes. DISCLAIMER: Recorded befor...

We have a brief look at the new proposed laws from IFAB and talk about how refereeing needs confidence and experience. We look at the big decisions from the weekend and Luke has a massive rant about something or other. Come and join us on this week's cracker of an episode.

As referees, we are often scrutinised and questioned around mistakes but how do we overcome them? Do we park them and move on or use them as a means of improvement? This week we talk about how we can bounce back and that sometimes mistakes are great for character development and resilience. Tune in this week as the boys are back talking all things refereeing!

We might as well jump on the bandwagon and discuss the MASSIVE talking point of the week. Should the goal have been given? Was it a worthy VAR intervention? Would you have given it at grassroots level? So many opinions so listen to the right ones this week!

This week we delve into the psyche of refereeing relationships and begin to understand the importance of creating positivity on the filed of play. How can positive relationships benefit our game and how can we use a script to make sure we are explaining ourselves efficiently? Tune into the pod to listen to this and much more. The lads also discuss all of the latest incidents from the weekend's...

All the latest incidents from the weekend are discussed! Was it a penalty at Man City? Was Howard right to say the Dalot challenge was not a red card? How do we build confidence in your decisions through body language? Why is Kevin Nolan keeping his shoes on? All the latest chat and more!

A flippant nickname on TikTok but how did it come about and how has the bug of running now affected his refereeing? We are joined by Paul who is part of Lincolnshire FA. How did he get into refereeing and what are his aspirations for the future?

We delve deep into the psyche of football referees. What makes them want to be a referee and motivates them to continue? How do they hone their skills and what is it about mindset that keeps them strong in the heat of battle? Luke and Wayne also disagree about the FA Cup! Is it still a valued competition? Join us this week for more fun and games on the pod!

As a podcast that wants to improve referees, this week we ask the legendary Andy Woolmer what is needed on the refereeing journey? Is it all about law? How does match control impact it but most of all, what is meant by 'referee presence?' How can a referee improve their skillset whether they are starting out or moving into the professional game.

A wonderful episode to end the year. We talk VAR after a tough weekend for the officials and we ask Co-Pilot about the hosts. How much does AI know? A huge thank you to all of our guests in 2025. We will be back in 2026 with a fresh new look and even more wonderful guests!

This week we discuss all the big refereeing discussion points. Is football in crisis and how do we improve the discipline within it? How long can football absorb the discipline issues within it and the constant barrage of 'discussion' from the media? Is the NENE derby a terrible derby? And was Kevin Nolan right to call the Cobblers' red card 'ridiculous?' Join us once again for...

What made Kieran Clarke step into refereeing? This week we talk to Kieran about his career in football and why he has given up playing to continue with the whistle. We also discuss why Wayne had 'beef' this week and discuss all of the other hot topics around football refereeing. Thanks to you all who are listening to us on a weekly basis!

It was with great sadness that we learned this week of the sad passing of a Northamptonshire footballing stalwart - Richard Wilson. In this episode we celebrate the impact that Richard had on local football. Always good for a quick-witted remark and a man who always had a smile, Northants football will miss Richard immensely. We also talk about all the latest incidents of the weekend! Let us know...

In this episode we talk to the one and only Stuart Burt who celebrated his 500th Premier League appearance at the weekend. What a phenomenal achievement! Our congratulations go to Stuart on this incredible feat - a lot of hard work dedication and resilience in shared with the listeners. Tune in to hear more!

It was wonderful to get to meet Nathan Mattick on our show. Nathan can be seen on TikTok and it's there that we learnt that he is the UK's first wheelchair user to have qualified as a football referee. Listen to Nathan's inspiring story on our show this week. In other news, we discuss player management and question whether the sinbin rule in the UK is a help or a hindrance. Has this de...

On this week's episode, we look into what is foul and abusive language. How can we manage those situations and are there tools we can use to prevent this occurring? We also look into how we can enhance our match control. When does it start and how can we maintain in during the game. We also look into the incidents from the weekend with a focus on whether the Liverpool 'goal' should hav...