Bury & Rochdale Referees Association

03/11/2026

FIRST TIME ON THURSDAY? 👋

Thinking about coming to our November session but not sure what to expect? Here's how a night with us works:

🚪 Doors open at 7.00pm, so come early for a brew and a chat
🎤 We start at 7.30pm. This month it's Peter Wright on The Psychology of Refereeing
🙋 No pressure to speak up. Just come along and listen
🤝 Referees of every level, from first season to semi-pro, all in one room
🥪 Food on for members

📍 St Mary's Social Club, Pine Street, Radcliffe, M26 2WQ

Members and new faces are always welcome. See you Thursday!

02/11/2026

THE ANSWER | You make the call ✅

The answer is C: a corner kick to the attacking team.

Under Law 13, a goal can't be scored directly into your own net from a free kick. If it happens, the opponents get a corner. ⛳

The same applies to a goal kick (Law 16) and a throw-in that goes straight into the thrower's own goal.

Did you get it right? 👇

01/11/2026

YOU MAKE THE CALL 🤔

A defender takes a free kick inside their own penalty area. They scuff it, and the ball goes straight into their own net without touching anyone else.

What's the decision? 👇

A) Goal to the attacking team
B) Retake the free kick
C) Corner kick to the attacking team

Answer tomorrow!

📷 Ian Coppack Photos

31/10/2026

HAPPY HALLOWEEN 🎃

No tricks. Just good decisions. 👻

Good luck to all our officials out across Bury, Rochdale and beyond this weekend. Enjoy your games, and look after each other.

What's the strangest thing you've ever seen on a matchday? A dog on the pitch, a lost ball in a tree? 👇

30/10/2026

This week's appointments are now live.

Another busy week for members of Bury & Rochdale Referees' Association, from grassroots to the Premier League, the National League, the FA Vase, the WNL and the PGA U21 League.

View the full appointments for 30th October–6th November below:

https://www.buryrefs.org.uk/post/appointments-30th-october-6th-november-2026

Best of luck to everyone involved this week.

We are back again and as ever we are proud to publish our members' appointments for 30th October - 6th November.Match Appointments - Friday 30th October Kaan Hayes - Referee Hanley Town vs Prescot Cables Northern Premier League - WestMatch Appointments - Saturday 31st October Dan Sykes - Assistant R...

29/10/2026

ONE WEEK TODAY | Thursday 5th November 🎤

Our November Monthly Meeting and Development Session is a week away, with guest speaker Peter Wright, Former EFL Official and Performance Coach.

🧠 Topic: The Psychology of Refereeing

📍 St Mary's Social Club, Pine Street, Radcliffe, M26 2WQ
🚪 Doors 7.00pm, start 7.30pm

Members and new faces are always welcome, and there's food on for members. See you there!

29/10/2026

MATCHDAY 🏆

Good luck to our member James Mainwaring, who is Assistant Referee for Everton v Newcastle United in the EFL Cup today.

Have a great game, James! 👏

28/10/2026

SAVE THE DATE | Christmas Social 🎄

Thursday 3rd December, St Mary's Social Club, Radcliffe.

Our December meeting is our Christmas social, and everyone's welcome: members, new faces, friends and family.

🎄 Free entry
🧠 Christmas referee quiz
🥪 Bring-and-share buffet
🎁 Raffle with some great prizes

🚪 Doors 7.00pm, start 7.30pm
📍 St Mary's Social Club, Pine Street, Radcliffe, M26 2WQ

Coming along? Let us know in the comments, and tell us what you'll bring for the buffet! 👇

27/10/2026

MATCHDAY ⚽

Good luck to our member Adam Boubrahmi, who is Assistant Referee for today's National League North game between Chester and Marine.

Have a great game, Adam! 👏

📷 Ian Coppack Photos

26/10/2026

REF SPEAK | Five terms explained 📖

Ever heard a referee say something on the pitch and wondered what it meant? Here's your quick guide:

🟢 Advantage: play continues after a foul because stopping would hurt the team that was fouled.
🟥 DOGSO: Denying an Obvious Goal-Scoring Opportunity. Usually a red card.
🟨 SPA: Stopping a Promising Attack. Usually a yellow.
🚩 Offside position: just being there isn't an offence. You have to be involved in play.
⏱️ Sin bin: a 10-minute temporary dismissal for dissent, used in grassroots football.

Which one do you hear shouted at referees the most? 👇