Breaking Barriers Delivers Impactful Week Across Academy and Community Football

Refresh Sports supported the delivery of three Breaking Barriers events in partnership with PGMO during a landmark week of activity across Huddersfield, Manchester and Birmingham.

Working across both professional academy and community environments, the programme connected young people directly with elite match officials, providing immersive insight into life as a referee and highlighting clear pathways within the game.

Academy Insight at Huddersfield Town

The week began at Huddersfield Town’s Canalside Training Centre, where U16 and U18 academy players stepped into the world of professional officiating.

Hosted by Sanny Rudravajhala, the panel featured Premier League referee Andy Madley, FIFA and Women’s Super League assistant referee Ceri Williams, Player to Match Official representative George Smith and CORE X official Sufyaan Shafi.

Players rotated through decision-making drills, assistant referee exercises and a VAR experience, gaining first-hand appreciation of the preparation, communication and resilience required at the highest level of the game.

Collaboration with Football Beyond Borders in Manchester

The programme then moved to Manchester in collaboration with Football Beyond Borders, continuing its commitment to widening access and creating opportunity within football.

The session blended open discussion with practical officiating exercises and live decision-making scenarios, encouraging participants to step into the role of the referee while developing confidence, leadership and communication skills.

By working alongside Football Beyond Borders, Breaking Barriers reinforced its mission of ensuring pathways within football extend beyond playing and remain visible to young people from all backgrounds.

Community Engagement in Birmingham

The week concluded at Birmingham County FA, delivered in partnership with The Albion Foundation.

Participants heard from EFL referee Will Finnie, former professional footballer Carl Baker, CORE X and Women’s Championship referee Aaron Ford, and Women’s Championship referee Hannah Gardner. The session combined personal storytelling with immersive on-pitch activity, placing participants in realistic match scenarios to experience the pressures and responsibilities officials face.

The impact extended beyond the event itself, with Birmingham County FA committing to deliver a dedicated refereeing course for participants from the session, creating a direct pathway from engagement to qualification.

One Programme, Multiple Environments

Delivering three events in one week demonstrated the flexibility and strength of the Breaking Barriers model, operating seamlessly across academy and community settings while maintaining a consistent purpose: to challenge perceptions and showcase refereeing as a credible and rewarding pathway within the game.

Refresh Sports remains proud to support the delivery of Breaking Barriers alongside PGMO and trusted partners, creating authentic experiences that leave a lasting impact.

For more information on refereeing courses and pathways, visit englandfootball.com/participate/referees.