National Performance Centre launched as part of strategy to develop grassroots refereeing

As part of this, we launched our new National Performance Centre (NPC) for match officials, marking a significant step in the evolution of the FA Centre of Refereeing Excellence (CORE) programme and another milestone in our mission to improve standards and drive diversity across refereeing. 

The FA CORE programme is the national framework for identifying, developing and progressing talented referees through the football pyramid. Operating through a tiered structure, the programme provides coaching, mentoring, and performance feedback for referees with aspirations of reaching the highest levels of the game. 

The CORE programme, delivered in partnership with the Premier League and the Professional Game Match Officials (PGMO), represents a new era in the development of match officials at the highest levels of the grassroots and semi-professional game. 

The National Performance Centre will serve as the central hub for the top 30 referee prospects in the country, providing them with a structured, high-performance environment designed to support and accelerate their progression into the elite ranks. Referees have been selected through a rigorous recruitment process, including live scouting, performance analysis, and input from expert CORE coaches and the Talent Management team.

The National Performance Centre forms a key component of our long-term commitment to inclusion and a more representative refereeing community. The first intake of the National Performance Centre includes 10 female match officials, and 20 percent of the cohort are from a Black, Asian, and Mixed Heritage background. 

Through our Talent ID events for Black, Asian and Mixed officials, over 50 officials have already been identified and many are part of the PGMO-led ‘CORE X’, which is a collaborative programme with The FA and BAMREF, alongside The FA’s CORE Men’s & Women’s. This significant moment recognises the most promising and talented officials from Black, Asian and Mixed Heritage communities receive equal access to talent programmes.

The National Performance Centre builds on our landmark refereeing strategy to create an inclusive and diverse refereeing culture in England. In July 2023, we launched ‘To Grow, Guide, and Govern’, which outlines a significant commitment to diversifying the refereeing pathway over the next three years. This includes delivering more courses, expanding bursary schemes, and enhancing diversity in supporting roles within refereeing.

Nathan Magill, Head of Referee Development, The FA, said: “The launch of our brand-new National Performance Centre sets a new benchmark in refereeing development and marks a significant moment in our mission to foster a high-quality, representative and diverse grassroots refereeing pyramid. These match officials are the future of our elite refereeing pathway, and the importance of training and supporting their development through a unified national centre will be hugely beneficial for English football.”
 
Howard Webb, Chief Refereeing Officer, PGMO, said: “This is a significant and progressive step which underlines the commitment to refereeing in England. The identification of talent and development are at the core of aligned pathways between the grassroots and professional game, providing greater levels of support and opportunities to a broader pool of diverse match officials now and in the future.”