REFEREES
 

FIFA List for Richardson
 
Another example of hard work and commitment is reflected in the achievement of Halifax-based referee David Richardson, who received confirmation of his acceptance onto the FIFA list of Assistant Referees from the FA’s Head of Senior Referee Development, Neale Barry
        
David, a pharmacist with Calderdale Royal Hospital, receives this appointment 17 years into a refereeing career which began in the Matlock area just before his 15th birthday.

David Richardson
 
He still remembers the first time he crossed the white line, a junior match at South Normanton Colts FC which ended in a 9-0 win for the home side, a far cry from the English Premiership and European football competitions.
 
Having moved into the West Riding to attend Bradford University where after 4 years he obtained a pharmacy degree, he continued to referee in local football alongside his studies.
 
Promoted to the equivalent of today’s Level 4, he refereed on the Halifax Saturday and Harrogate Leagues whilst ‘lining’ on the Northern Counties East Football League, one of two Contributory Leagues in this area. 
Remaining in the West Riding after completing his studies David, now 33, was invited for interview to become a Level 3 referee at the start of the 1999/2000 season.   Appointed to the Assistant Referees List of the Panel League system, a ‘double jump’ came in 2002 with promotion onto the Football League Assistant’s List and the Panel League as a referee.   His introduction to League football arrived in the shape of a trip to Hartlepool v Boston.
 
Having just completed 5 seasons as a National List Assistant, David enjoyed a number of key appointments last year, including the Championship play off semi-final between Wolves and WBA.   He also took the opportunity to go to Sweden to work with Sheffield ’s Howard Webb in an U19 European Qualifying tournament.   Also during last season, David was allocated to games with referees from the select group on the Football League and the Premiership starting with a game between Aston Villa and Watford.

At the start of this season, David was informed that he was to be promoted onto the select group of assistant referees in his own right and soon became involved in European competitions with a trip to a UEFA Cup tie, Lens v Young Boys (Berne) working with FIFA Referee Mark Clattennburg.

Following this, David was asked to attend a UEFA fitness test in Sheffield in anticipation of a nomination onto the FIFA Assistant’s list !

In October, Neale Barry confirmed he’d been nominated by the FA and that their recommendations would be discussed at a UEFA meeting in mid December. Having heard nothing immediately after the meeting, it was with some relief that the email from Neale arrived on New Year’s Eve advising David that his and four other Assistants’ nominations and that of one referee had been accepted.   From 1st January 2008, David would be only one of 10 referees in the Country entitled to wear the coveted FIFA badge.

The first opportunity for this arrived when Stoke met Newcastle in a FA Cup game shown live on the BBC.   It was a real cup-tie atmosphere and the game went to a replay which, a situation contributed to the departure of ‘Big Sam’ from St. James’ Park.   Nothing to do with David though !