Andrew Smith Appointed Referee Liaison Officer
The Nottinghamshire Girls and Ladies Football League are delighted to announce the appointment of Andrew Smith as the League’s new Referee Liaison Officer, strengthening our commitment to supporting, developing, and retaining match officials across all age groups.
Andrew brings significant grassroots refereeing and officiating development experience to the NGLFL. He has spent many years working within referee development structures most notably serving as the Referee Liaison Officer for the Young Elizabethan League (YEL), being a former level 4 referee himself he understands the pressures involved in refereeing and working close with the CFA referee development officers.
In this role, Andrew became a leading figure in referee support:
Providing direct mentorship to young referees and support to their parents
Offering real-time matchday guidance, advice and support.
Managing positive communications between referees, clubs, league officials and the CFAs
Advocating for referee welfare and creating safer, more supportive environments
He is well-known for championing the needs of young and developing referees and has spoken publicly about the importance of positive reinforcement, respect, and structured support systems for match officials.
Comment from the NGLFL:
“We are thrilled to welcome Andrew Smith to the Nottinghamshire Girls and Ladies Football League. His proven track record in referee welfare and development will be invaluable as we continue to grow the league and strengthen our officiating pathway.
Andrew’s experience, energy and commitment perfectly align with our vision for a supportive, well-structured refereeing environment. His appointment marks an important step forward in ensuring all match officials feel valued, heard, and encouraged to progress.”
Comment from Andrew Smith:
“I am proud and excited to be joining the NGLFL as Referee Liaison Officer. My passion has always been to support referees — especially those who are starting their journey — and to ensure they have the guidance and confidence they need to succeed.
The NGLFL is a progressive and inclusive league, and I look forward to working closely with referees, volunteers, and clubs to continue building a positive, development-focused environment for all match officials.”
To confirm this is an additional role to the league with Gerry Ward remaining in post as Referee Appointments Officer and Fixtures Secretary.