Bury & Rochdale Referees Association

26/10/2026

REF SPEAK | Five terms explained 📖

Ever heard a referee say something on the pitch and wondered what it meant? Here's your quick guide:

🟢 Advantage: play continues after a foul because stopping would hurt the team that was fouled.
🟥 DOGSO: Denying an Obvious Goal-Scoring Opportunity. Usually a red card.
🟨 SPA: Stopping a Promising Attack. Usually a yellow.
🚩 Offside position: just being there isn't an offence. You have to be involved in play.
⏱️ Sin bin: a 10-minute temporary dismissal for dissent, used in grassroots football.

Which one do you hear shouted at referees the most? 👇

25/10/2026

DID YOU KNOW? | Refereeing firsts 📜

Some of the things we take for granted on a Sunday morning are newer than you'd think:

📯 1878: the referee's whistle is said to have been used for the first time, at a Nottingham Forest game. Before that, officials waved a handkerchief!
⚽ 1891: the penalty kick arrives, and the referee moves onto the pitch for the first time. Until then they'd watched from the touchline.
🟨🟥 1970: yellow and red cards make their World Cup debut. The idea came from English referee Ken Aston, inspired by a set of traffic lights.

Which one surprised you most? 👇

24/10/2026

CLOCKS GO BACK TONIGHT 🕐

An extra hour in bed before Sunday's game. You're welcome. 😴

A few things to think about as the evenings get darker:

🔦 Check your kick-off time. Some leagues bring kick-offs forward for the winter months.
🧤 Pack for the cold: base layers, gloves and a warm top for after the game.
⌚ Double-check your watches have changed too!

Good luck to everyone out this weekend.

23/10/2026

This week's appointments are now live.

Another busy week for members of Bury & Rochdale Referees' Association, from grassroots to the Premier League, the FA Trophy, the WSL and the National League.

View the full appointments for 24th–30th October below:

https://www.buryrefs.org.uk/post/appointments-24th-30th-october-2026

Best of luck to everyone involved this week.

We are back again and as ever we are proud to publish our members' appointments for 24th-30th October.Match Appointments - Saturday 24th OctoberSimon Harrison - Referee Abbey Hey vs South Liverpool North West Counties - Premier Division Eric Edwards - Assistant Referee Kidlington vs Reading City Com...

22/10/2026

NEW ON THE BLOG | Advantage ⚽

A foul goes in, the crowd shouts... and the referee doesn't blow. 🙌

To the touchline it can look like a missed call. In fact, advantage is one of the most skilful decisions in the game. Get it right and nobody notices. Get it wrong and you've punished the team that was fouled.

Our new blog explains how advantage works, when to play it, when to pull it back, and what happens when a red card is involved.

👉 Read it at buryrefs.org.uk

21/10/2026

THINKING ABOUT REFEREEING? | Start your journey 🟨

Love football? Want to stay in the game, earn some extra money and keep fit while you're at it? Refereeing could be for you.

✅ Flexible: choose when and how often you're available
✅ Paid: earn a match fee for every game you officiate
✅ Supported: you'll never be on your own

To get started, sign up for a referee course with your County FA (Manchester FA or Lancashire FA, depending on where you live).

Once you're qualified, we're here to help. Bury & Rochdale RA has been supporting new officials since 1898, with monthly development sessions, advice from experienced referees and a friendly group to learn alongside.

Know someone who'd make a great referee? Tag them below 👇

20/10/2026

GUEST SPEAKER | Thursday 5th November 🎤

We're delighted to welcome Peter Wright to our November Monthly Meeting and Development Session.

Peter is a Former EFL Official and now a Performance Coach, so he knows what it takes to progress at every level of the game.

📍 St Mary's Social Club, Pine Street, Radcliffe, M26 2WQ
🚪 Doors 7.00pm, start 7.30pm

Members and new faces are always welcome.

19/10/2026

AFTER A TOUGH GAME | Look after yourself 💙

Not every match goes to plan. If this weekend was a hard one, you're not on your own.

1️⃣ Talk it through. A mentor, a fellow official or a mate who gets it.
2️⃣ Reflect, then switch off. Note one thing to work on, then let the rest go.
3️⃣ Report it. If you faced abuse, tell your County FA. It matters.
4️⃣ Come along. Our monthly meetings are full of people who've been there.

Every referee has had a game they'd rather forget. It's what you take from it that counts.

Need a chat? Message us any time.

18/10/2026

SAVE THE DATE | Thursday 5th November

Remember, remember… our next Monthly Meeting and Development Session! 🎆

📍 St Mary's Social Club, Pine Street, Radcliffe, M26 2WQ
🚪 Doors 7.00pm, start 7.30pm
🎤 Guest speaker: Peter Wright, Former EFL Official - Women's Pathway Performance Coach

Members and new faces are always welcome, and there's food on for members. Come along, learn something new and catch up with fellow officials.

17/10/2026

MATCHDAY | Weekend 17th – 18th October

Good luck to all our officials this weekend! 🟨🟥

To every referee and assistant out across Bury, Rochdale, North Manchester and beyond: enjoy your games, stay safe and look after each other.

We'd love to see you out there. Tag us in your matchday photos (with permission from the venue) and we'll share our favourites.