Hi,
Returning ref after a few years. After the first time round just enjoying the hobby of it I'm looking to progress and ambitious with the role.
I'm based in Sheffield but haven't been involved in the local leagues for a while, so unsure of the local leagues and their respective reputations so any advice is welcome.
Willing to travel for good opportunities/ standard.
Any advice/ contacts would be appreciated.
I left Sheffield in 2020 but I imagine things haven't changed much.
I would recommend the Sheffield Fair Play League. It's Saturday 10.30am and open age. It's the only league I've ever experienced that doesn't appoint referees centrally and its actually up to each club to find referees for home games. This means you often referee the same team many times in a season and build up a good relationship. You can also go on Facebook and put your availability for teams to contact you. The League is well run and new teams have to play 5 'grading' games where the referee has to mark them on player behaviour. Poor behaviour means no entry to the league. I regularly refereed Sheffield Trinity and they were a pleasure to referee as were many others such as Bessecarr Evangelical & Maltby Zion (its an ex Church League hence the names).
There's very little OA football on Saturday aftermoons below County league, but you can get lines at County League easily which id recommend.
There's loads of football Sunday mornings. I used to rotate between the the Blades Super Draw (best quality league and several ex professional referees including a FIFA AR officiate on it). There's also the Imperial League and the Meadowhall/Bud Evans tl u18 & u21 leagues. Highly recommended the u18 & u21 leagues which are excellently run.
The women's league is popular around Sheffield now and you have the SDJFL (I believe it may still be the biggest in the Country, used to be called the Juniper) where there's a mountain of kids football games.
I forgot the Vets O35s & O45s leagues which play on Saturday afternoons. 5 divisions in total when I left and some of the most competitive football I did at grassroots with many ex pros.
I also did the Rotherham Sunday League for a year as well.
Hope that helps. Get contacting the league & ref secs.