PGMOL’s latest edition of ‘Breaking Barriers in the Community’ took place at Charlton Athletic’s ‘The Valley’ in February.
Hosted by Dario O’Reilly, the evening featured Premier League assistant referee Dan Robathan, EFL referee Ruebyn Ricardo and Women’s Super League assistant referee Sophie Dennington, who shared their journeys and insights into officiating.
Attendees gained a first-hand understanding of the challenges and rewards of the role whilst also having an exciting opportunity to step into the role of a Video Assistant Referee through the VAR experience.
Following in his father’s footsteps, Dan Robathan’s journey started when he was just 10 years old. He spoke about his rise through the ranks after first qualifying, reaching the top level of the game after years of dedication and high-level performance. Touching on some of the sacrifices he had to make along the way, his story reflected a strong passion for the profession. Celebrating his recent addition to the FIFA List of international assistant referees for 2025, Dan said, ‘refereeing is such a rewarding career, it requires immense commitment, dedication and hard work.’
Ruebyn Ricardo made his Sky Bet Championship debut on New Year’s Day - a moment he described as one of the most significant in his career. When speaking about how he first got into refereeing at 16 years old, Ruebyn opened up about losing his mother at a young age and how this became a driving force for him.
Before taking the step into full-time officiating, he worked as a mentor for young people and expressed how that experience shaped his belief in giving back and supporting others on their journeys, especially with refereeing: ‘I think that it is so important that we give back to the community and showcase that we are also human beings. We all come from different walks of life. Breaking down that barrier at this kind of event is really important.’
Sophie Dennington spoke about her unconventional journey into refereeing, recalling how she never saw herself as a standout footballer and how refereeing quickly became a passion after getting involved during her school years.
After a rapid rise through the levels, Sophie was operating in the women’s professional game at just 21 years old and, within nine months of that, she officiated an international match for the first time. She described walking out at Wembley as an assistant referee for the Women’s FA Cup Final as her biggest career highlight.
Reflecting on the evening Sophie said, “The one thing I want people tonight to take away is to believe in yourself. If you have a dream, just go for it - refereeing can be for you.”
One of the most touching stories of the night came from Sophie, who spoke about a post from her mum that went viral on social media before her FA Cup final game that reflected on the challenges that Sophie had faced growing up with dyslexia but how she never gave up on her dream. The message resonated with thousands of people online, and Sophie admitted it was a heart-warming moment to see how many people were inspired by her journey.
Senior figures from the football industry were also in attendance, with Charlton Athletic’s Vice Chair and EDI Lead, Paul Elliott CBE, opening the evening by asserting that equality, diversity, and inclusion are embedded in the club’s values, expressing his pride in this commitment and collaboration with PGMOL.
He stated, "Refereeing provides a great opportunity for young men and women to be involved in the game.”
Also present was Aji Ajibola, CEO of BAMREF - a support group dedicated to increasing the visible representation of Black, Asian, and ethnic minority match officials at all levels of the game.
The event served as a powerful reminder of the importance of diversity in officiating, inspiring the next generation to step forward and play a vital role in the future of the game. Notably, 18% of attendees expressed an interest in becoming match officials.
To find out more about the qualifications, courses, and pathways for refereeing in grassroots and professional football, click here: https://www.englandfootball.com/participate/referees
