Drive to increase diversity of football match officials picks up momentum

The success of Sam Allison, pictured refereeing Sheffield United v Luton – his first Premier League game – in December, has helped BAMREF’s recruitment. Photograph: Mike Egerton/PA

For Joel Mannix, witnessing Sam Allison becoming the first black Premier League referee for 15 years when he took charge of Sheffield United against Luton in December was just the start. A founder member of BAMREF – an organisation that seeks to give a voice and support to all officials from black, Asian and mixed heritage communities – Mannix has devoted the past three years to helping others overcome the barriers he faced.

“I knew I would never see the promised land as a referee,” he says. “I was getting bored with the same old negative words from observers. Sometimes, when doors keep closing on you it can get disheartening …”