Two of Cumberland FA’s active Level 4 referees have successfully completed their FA referee observer training programme.
Ben Whitfield and Leigh Musgrave can now be allocated games to observe and provide written feedback to Cumberland FA promotion candidates at Level 5 and 4.
Cumberland FA referee development officer Scott Taylor said: “This is fantastic news and further strengthens our referee observer workforce in Cumberland.
“Both lads are active Level 4s and part of the County FA CORE Group plus had recently come through the Referee Progression Pathway themselves, so it is great to see them putting something back into the grassroots game in Cumberland.
“I’ve always placed importance on CPD and have asked members of our CORE Group to grasp opportunities like this.
“It is a great experience, lifts their status a little, and increases their networking chances as they are now both accredited FA Observers.”
Meanwhile the Cumberland FA is looking for expression of interests from suitably experienced Cumberland-based referees to attend a national course.
It is looking for nominations to attend the National Referee Developer Training course held at St George’s Park in Staffordshire.
The course is split over two weekends and attendance at both is mandatory.
They are being held on May 9 and May 10 and September 5 and September 6 and the deadline for consideration is this Friday, February 6.
Scott said: “This is a great opportunity for someone to join me in training new referees in Cumberland.
“We are looking ideally from an experienced referee, and one who has previous experience of teaching or delivering CPD and training courses.
“The National Referee Developer Training course is full-on and requires a high level of commitment and attendance at both weekends is mandatory to pass.
“I have been to St George’s Park and it is a beautiful purpose-built complex so it will be a fantastic experience for the chosen candidates.
“There is a course fee involved but the cost to the candidate is yet to be finalised, however, that should not deter anyone from expressing their interest.”
