Oliver is the youngest winner of major local prize as the top referees are honoured

Sean Bedford (17), Aidan Brooks (16) and Oliver Hammond (18) were revealed at midday on Christmas Day as winners of prestigious Peterborough Referees Association Awards.

These 2019-20 season awards should have presented at the annual Peterborough Young Referees Evening, but as with most things during this difficult time the flagship event was cancelled in November.

Bedford was named Peterborough & Fenland Select Group Referee of the Year, Brooks was named Peterborough RA Young Referee of the season and Hammond became the youngest ever winner of the Peterborough RA Referee of the season prize.

Peterborough RA chairman Robert Windle was delighted to announce the awards which will be physically presented at a later date.

Windle said: “Despite local leagues being cancelled last season we were determined to reward these referees who had excelled during the season.”

Peterborough RA formed a ‘Select Group’ of young referees in 2011. It’s the only such scheme in the country.

Windle was the instigator of the scheme. He said “It gives young referees an opportunity to to learn life skills as well as become better referees as they firstly are nominated, then have an interview and they must attend educational sessions and be available to referee most weeks. It is a stepping stone to adult football.

“So far 106 young referees have been part of the Select Group which is the highest level of the scheme of which six made it to level 4 (UCL) and one of which became a Referee Development Officer (Lukas Wood) at Essex FA.

Many of the group over the years have had promotions and successes. Some have been invited to be part of the FA CORE Group (Centre of Regional Excellence) under the wing of Premier League Referee Kevin Friend.

Tom Beeton and Simon Bell have officiated in U15 internationals at St Georges Park as well as national cup finals. Natalie Hudson, Jasmine Priddis and Ellie Bennington have been involved in female internationals.

“Every single referee will be watched 2-3 times a season by an experienced mentor who gives written feedback to the referee, their County FA and the leagues.

“And its not only the Select Group who have been supported as those who have just started out have also received support and been mentored and their next step might be the Select Group.

“The scheme was supported by Vivacity for many years as well as the Peterborough & District Saturday afternoon Adult league, the Peterborough Junior Alliance and Peterborough Youth League and have had Select Group referees officiate in their cup finals.

“Even if they don’t carry on with the whistle each and every one will have benefitted and learnt things to help them in later life.”