Linnets support Norfolk FA in Referee recruitment drive

King’s Lynn Town FC are joining forces with Norfolk County FA in their bid to tackle dwindling referee numbers in the West of the County.

With Referee numbers in local Leagues around the King’s Lynn area decreasing at a worrying rate, the County’s biggest non-league club are encouraging people to take up the whistle and give back to the beautiful game.

King’s Lynn Town will be promoting Norfolk FA’s upcoming Referee course dates, one of which is based in King’s Lynn early in the new year, presenting local individuals the perfect opportunity to get qualified.

By generously offering matchday programme space for the recruitment drive, along with displaying promotional posters at their upcoming home fixtures against Boston on Boxing Day and Spennymoor Town in the new year, they hope that their loyal following will consider Norfolk FA’s plea.

The club will also be interviewing a local grassroots Referee as a matchday programme feature to give spectators on the day an insight into the world of officiating.

The Linnets showing their support to encourage more people into refereeing is most welcomed by local adult league The RB Trucks North West Norfolk League. Norfolk’s only adult league in the area has struggled with referee coverage so far this season and is offering 50% bursaries to adults who pass the course and complete a minimum amount of league fixtures.

This coupled with Norfolk FA’s 50% off funding for over 19’s not in fulltime education, presents the opportunity for an individual to become a fully qualified referee for free. Becoming an official also offers the chance for people to keep fit and healthy, earn a bit of extra cash and give back to the local game. 

Norfolk County FA Chief Executive, Gavin Lemmon, said: “It has been great to see the successes that King’s Lynn Town have had in the last 18 months; and for Norfolk’s highest-level non-League club to be supporting us to recruit local referees, shows how much King’s Lynn care about the lower levels of the game in their area.

“New adult referees are vital for the grassroots game to thrive in the West of the County. I would encourage anybody even curious about refereeing to simply book onto the free taster session taking place on the same evening, to find out more about what could become a fantastic new hobby.”

King’s Lynn Town FC Chairman, Stephen Cleeve, said: “I am very pleased to be involved and to assist the Norfolk FA in this scheme. The decline of referees at grassroots level is a real worry to many throughout the game at all levels. These local courses look an ideal way to go along and see what the job of refereeing is all about. In my opinion it’s all very simple that without referees we have no game and it’s something that we all have to act on before it becomes too late.”

For further details of the courses and to book on, please click here.