Starting his refereeing career at just 14, RJ now regularly officiates both youth and adult matches across Somerset. The teenager developed his passion for refereeing to get more involved in the game he loves.
Despite facing challenges including handing out a red card in his first match, RJ has embraced the responsibility that comes with being a referee. Daniel Chalk, PE teacher at Monkton Wood Academy, describes him as 'confident' and notes his contributions to school football sessions. Martin Peters, Somerset FA referee development officer, highlights it's 'unusual' for a 16-year-old to referee adult games, making RJ's achievements particularly unique.