JFA referees Harry Walker and Mikey Pih were selected to travel to Manchester to referee a Manchester League Prem game as part of the FA CORE Programme.

FA CORE is the Centre of Refereeing Excellence and is a programme for referees on the promotion scheme who are picked as being ‘excellent’ and showing promising signs of progressing well through the levels. The programme supports these selected referees through an allocated coach, who gives them development points and opportunities to help referees progress onto the next level.

Jersey FA Football Development Manager, Brian Oliver said: “We identified Mikey and Harry as young referees from Jersey with clear potential and looking for opportunities to become the best they could be. Both had come through our Referee Development Centre when they first became qualified referees, moving on to referee junior and then senior matches within our Combination League structure. During this time, they have progressed to Level 5 referee status.”

Harry Walker said: “I took up the offer of being a member of the North-West CORE group due to the development opportunities and support that is offered.” Harry Continued “By being in the CORE group I get support from my coach every week as well as opportunities to officiate in tournaments and at games that aren’t offered to all officials.”

“During the trip, myself and Mikey were officiating on a Manchester League Prem game on the Saturday, Mikey refereed, and I was an assistant. On the Sunday we had the development day where we took part in a practical session based around movement around the penalty area in the morning, and in the afternoon, we took part in two technical sessions based around penalties and player management/communication.”

Brian Oliver added: “The feedback we have received from the FA following their attendance at the CORE "development weekends" has been extremely positive and we are delighted to see how much they have benefited by being part of this National programme.”