Following many questions and queries, we wanted to outline the appointment guidelines and process so that you can all be aware of what to expect throughout the 2025/26 season.
Availability and Dates Control
Throughout the season, we will be using the new Centre Circle App to control the availability of our match officials. ALL MATCH OFFICIALS no matter their level (including Level 4's and above) should register on the app and should you not be available you simply do not have to open your dates. For information on how to join the app please click HERE
Where possible appointments will be made around 3/4 weeks in advance aside from when previous round fixtures are delayed.
Order of Precedence
For the avoidance of doubt, the FA's Order of Precedence will remain in place for all fixtures appointed too. For those of you that are not sure about this, it simply means that the higher level the game the more important it means that this game must be covered before the lower game and as an example;
Game 1 - Team A v Team B - Middlesex Premier Cup
Game 2 - Team C v Team D - Combined Counties Football League Premier Division North
In the above example Game 2 will take precedence as it is higher in the order of precedence and Game 1 is not the County FA's nominated Senior Cup.
However, if the referee was appointed too Game 1 before the referee was appointed to Game 2 and was outside of the 4 day window prior to the game taking place, then Game 1 would take precedence due to being appointed first.
This of course will be mitigated due to the close working relationship we have within our appointment officers within the step system and will only impact officials at Level 4 and above, 5-4 Promotion Candidates and officials that operate as Assistant Referees on Step 5/6 Leagues.
Should you every have a clash of fixtures throughout the season, its imperative that you contact both appointment officers straight away to ensure that we can ensure that both games are covered and you are put on the correct game.
Appointment Notification & Confirmation
Upon being appointed to a County Cup fixture, you will initially be notified by a notification on the Centre Circle App. You must go onto the app and confirm the fixture and accept it. Should you need to decline the fixture you can do this via the app and it will ask you for a reason you are declining it.
Declining a fixture should be very rare across the County due to the fact that you need to OPEN your dates and tell us your available.
Once you have confirmed that you are available and closer to the day of the game we will upload your appointment to FA Full Time where the clubs and yourself will be notified via email of the game.
Cup Commencement
Our County Cup fixtures will commence on the weekend of 21st September 2025. While not all competitions will commence on this date, this will be when the first games will commence. Where possible we will aim to appoint to matches at least 3-4 weeks in advance to give ample notice to match officials of their games so that they can plan around their football commitments.
Post-Match Reporting
As the REFEREE you will be required to complete a post-match report after the fixture that must be completed within 24 hours of the game ending. This is too ensure that you report any rule breaches and poor behaviour to the competition and also any misconduct is reported to the County FA Discipline Department.
Post-Match Report - To be completed on the Centre Circle App within 24 hours.
Post-Match Discipline Report - To be completed on the Referee Portal within 24 hours.
Appointment Officers
Throughout the season all appointments will be made as follows;
Daryl Ann - referee@middlesexfa.com
Senior Challenge Cup, Senior Charity Cup, Premier Cup, Intermediate Cup, Junior Cup, Sunday Premier Cup, Sunday Intermediate Cup, Sunday Junior Cup, Veterans Cup & Senior Youth Cup
TBC - referee@middlesexfa.com
U18 Cup, U16 Cup, U15 Cup, U14 Cup, U13 Cup, U12 Cup, U14 Trophy, U13 Trophy, U12 Trophy, U18 Girls, U16 Girls, U14 Girls & U12 Girls
All communication to Referee Appointment Officers should be made via email to referee@middlesexfa.com to ensure a fast response.
4th Officials
As in previous seasons, 4th Officials will be appointed to all competition finals. These appointments will be completed as part of the Cup Final Appointments process that will take place in and around February 2026.
Middlesex FA reserve the right to appoint 4th officials in selected fixtures across the Senior Challenge Cup where we feel there is the need to based on the level of the teams competing and the development of match officials.
Officials guidance for 4th Officials will be supplied to match officials in advance of any appointments made.
Referee Kit
Match Officials are required in all County Cup ties to wear a full Referee Kit that must consist of Shirt, Shorts and Long Socks. The Referee shirt MUST display the Middlesex FA County Badge throughout the fixture.
Match Officials must wear kit that is black ONLY in fixtures within the Senior Challenge Cup that involve teams at Step 2 and above that wear a kit that may clash with the Referee then the match officials can request permission from the Referee Development Officer to wear a colour shirt. This can be approved as a one off event where required. In all other fixtures, kits that are not black are not permitted.
In Game Equipment
Referee Communication Kits are NOT to be used within the Middlesex County Cup fixtures. Where a fixture involves a team at Step 2 or above, this will be considered taking into account the experience of the officials operating on the game.
IN ALL GAMES, VANISHING SPRAY IS NOT PERMITTED TO BE USED.
County Contacts
Across the season, we expect you to have some questions and for that reason we ask that your questions in and around the County Cups are directed to the correct department in order to give you the best possible response time. Please use the contacts below throughout the 2025/26 season.
Referee Appointments - referee@middlesexfa.com
Fixture Organisation / Queries - countycups@middlesexfa.com
Safeguarding Concerns - safeguarding@middlesexfa.com
Discipline Questions - discipline@middlesexfa.com
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