The FA National Game Referees Department in conjunction with Carlsberg, are pleased to announce the launch of The FA Carlsberg Referee Awards.

With the men (and women) in black under a bit of a cloud of late, the awards will allow fans of the game at all levels to recognise the hardworking officials who don’t always get the credit and without much of non-league, junior and youth football would struggle to function.

Howard Webb, Select Group referee, Danny Mills ex England International player, together with two local referees, helped launch the awards to the press at Wembley Stadium on 5th October. The awards are designed to recognise and reward those volunteers such as referee mentors, coaches, tutors, assessors and not forgetting our referees, who do such a valuable job supporting football in the National Game.

Fans are encouraged to both nominate and vote so, whether a referee has caught your eye at a first team Dulwich Hamlet game, or just when you are out watching the kids in the park, why not take a moment to nominate him or her?

There are six Award categories, including:

• Outstanding contribution to Refereeing
• Referee Award (18 – 25 years) for outstanding performance and contribution
• Women Referee Award for outstanding performance and contribution
• Outstanding contribution to Refereeing from a local partner league involved within the NRDP
• Outstanding contribution to Refereeing within a referee development setting (must be over 18 years of age)
• Outstanding contribution to Refereeing from Volunteers (mentors, tutors, coaches & assessors)

Anyone can nominate and be nominated. The Awards will culminate in a presentation event at a high profile game at Wembley in 2013. Nominations open from November 5th at http://www.thefa.com/my-football/referee and are open until February 8th 2013.

For more details, contact Andy Porter or Adrian Shorter at the London FA on CLICK HERE for their contact details.