RJ, 16, from Taunton, Somerset, began refereeing at 14 and now regularly officiates both youth and adult matches across the county. His dedication earned him the Somerset Youth Referee of the Year award for outstanding contribution to the game.
Teachers describe him as confident and responsible, and Somerset FA officials say it is unusual for a 16‑year‑old to referee adult games. The association is using his example to encourage more young people to train as referees and to bring discipline into the adult game.