Just as it is for the players, our County Cup Finals are the undoubted pinnacle of the football season for our Match Officials. Only a very small proportion of our workforce can be rewarded with a game, so it’s a group that all strive to be included in each year.

Our programme of County Finals kicks off at The Football Development Centre in Bowthorpe on Friday 22nd March, where Ollie Sadd will take charge of the Norfolk Sunday Junior Cup Final between Watton United and Silver Fox. He will be assisted by Rob Bunting and Stuart Jessop, all three of whom have achieved promotions at the different County levels this year. Stalwart Paul Cutter completes this team as fourth official.

Two of our superstars this season have been Matt Friend and Harvey Newstead who have both achieved the impressive feat of making the ‘double jump’ from Level 7 to Level 5. It takes a great deal of dedication alongside natural ability to achieve this, and at such a young age! They are rewarded with a line on the Primary Cup Final and a middle in the John Savage Cup Final respectively.

Matt and Harvey at just 18 and 17 years of age have great refereeing futures in front of them and there is plenty of other young refereeing talent on show in County Finals again this season. Tom Rampling (17) who has recently been nominated to join the National Centre of Refereeing Excellence Group (CORE) will lead a team featuring the stars of our own Norfolk FA CORE Group in Sam Downing (16), Kian Peek (15) and Will Coglin-Hibbert (17) at the High Altitude U12s Cup Final. Harley Golder (20), also now on the National radar, will assist Harvey at the John Savage Final.

It’s not all about the youngsters though, there’s plenty of experienced match officials playing a part, so, whilst Eleni Christofi (18) will make her Carrow Road debut as Assistant Referee in the Women’s Cup Final, she’ll be joined by female football long-time regulars, Tracey Clayton and Paul Roe. Relative new-comer, Ryan Starkey, takes the whistle, he is the top-ranked Referee in Women’s football this season by Club Marks.

In the other Carrow Road Finals, high-flying Supply League Referees Tom Harvey (21) and Murray Grant (24) take the middles in the Junior Cup Final and the Sunday Senior Cup Final respectively. They head up incredibly strong teams with officials who have all had excellent seasons at their respective levels.

In the Norfolk Senior Cup Final, the pride of NR13, Ryan Head (25), will take charge, ably assisted by two National List Assistant Referees Martyn Holmes (33) and David Hutton (27) both of which have moved to Norfolk in recent years and have since become a very welcome and high quality part of our County Team. Ricky Owen, last year’s Referee, will act as fourth official. 
 

It’s impossible to end without a mention of one of our Fourth Officials on this years’ finals. He is not the sort of chap who wants any publicity, but his story is remarkable this season. Karl Smith, brutally assaulted and left unconscious on the field of play less than six months ago, has fought back to not only achieve promotion from level 6 to 5, but also to proudly take his place amongst our team of 40 finalists. It’s an amazing testament to his dedication and sums up the spirit of the team of Referees that proudly represent Norfolk FA.

The full list of appointments is as follows:

Wensum Print Norfolk Sunday Junior Cup Final

Watton United vs Silver Fox

• Friday 22nd March 2019 (7.30pm)
• Referee: Ollie Sadd
• Assistants: Rob Bunting & Stuart Jessop  
• 4th Official: Paul Cutter

Norfolk Primary Cup Final

Gayton United Reserves vs Celt Rangers

• Friday 29th March 2019 (7.30pm)
• Referee: Ashley Tyne
• Assistants: Louis Lofts & Matt Friend
• 4th Official: Allen Clark

John Savage Cup Final

Old Catton vs Taverham

• Friday 5th April 2019 (7.30pm)
• Referee: Harvey Newstead
• Assistants: Dan D’Cruz & Harley Golder
• 4th Official: Karl Smith

Stuart Dracup Cup Final

Loddon or Firside vs Aylsham or Norman Wanderers

• Friday 26th April 2019 (7.30pm)
• Referee: Egidijus Amsiejus
• Assistants: James Ludlam & James Sneddon
• 4th Official: Paul Lee

Norfolk Sunday Senior Cup Final

El Sol vs Riverside Rovers

• Sunday 28th April 2019 (11.00am) @ Carrow Road
• Referee: Murray Grant 
• Assistants: Tristen Watson & Ady George
• 4th Official: Scott Garrod

Norfolk Women’s Cup Final

King’s Lynn Town vs Wymondham Town

• Sunday 28th April 2019 (3.30pm) @ Carrow Road
• Referee: Ryan Starkey
• Assistants: Tracey Clayton & Eleni Christofi
• 4th Official: Paul Roe

Norfolk Senior Cup Final

Dereham Town vs Thetford Town

• Tuesday 30th April 2019 (7.30pm) @ Carrow Road
• Referee: Ryan Head
• Assistants: Martyn Holmes & David Hutton
• 4th Official: Ricky Owen

Norfolk Junior Cup Final

Gorleston Reserves vs Sprowston Athletic

• Wednesday 1st May 2019 (7.30pm) @ Carrow Road
• Referee: Tom Harvey
• Assistants: Ben Green & Andy Wilson
• 4th Official: Cameron Brown

Norfolk Veterans Cup Final

Horsford vs Tavern Old Boys

• Friday 3rd May 2018 (7.30pm)
• Referee: Phil South
• Assistants: Tony Collins & Kevin Slater
• 4th Official: Mark Swaby

High Altitude U12s Cup Final

Reffley or Mundford vs Horsford or Costessey Sports

• Friday 17th May 2019 (7.30pm)
• Referee: Tom Rampling
• Assistants: Sam Downing & Kian Peek
• 4th Official: Will Coglin-Hibbert