On Saturday 20th January 2018, Futsal Referees Harvey Newstead and Tim Sadler officiated three England U17’s Squad Camp Friendlies, as the National side prepare for their Championship this summer.

The Norfolk FA Officials Refereed the matches as the England U17 squad prepare for the European Championships in Slovenia.

16-year old Harvey Newstead is currently the Chairperson of the Norfolk FA Young Referee Group and is now a Futsal Level 4 Referee. He spoke of the experience at the weekend after qualifying as a Futsal Referee just over a year ago:

“It was an honour to have been asked to referee at this event.

"I looked forward to refereeing some of our Nation's best young talent in Futsal, and I wasn't let down. The day was great Development for myself as Tim and myself were observed and we received some great feedback for our development to take forward. It was a fantastic experience that I won't forget.

Tim first got involved in Futsal Refereeing in 2013, and following the completion of the Futsal conversion course, he became a Referee in the first NCFA & SNYFL U16 Futsal Competition. He then began officiating in the County 5IVES Futsal league at the UEA as well as the British Universities and Colleges Sport (BUCS) leagues. 

Through these events, Tim received his first appointment for The FA National League and has since decided to specialise in Futsal Refereeing, receiving a promotion to Level 2 at the end of the 2016/17 season.

“It is always a privilege to be appointed to a national fixture and it was a great honour to officiate an England game.

"It was also great too see a fellow Norfolk official appointed to the fixture and demonstrates the growth of Futsal within Norfolk. Overall it was a great development day for Harvey and I to work together on some top games and I really enjoyed it!"

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