Ex-George Ward student becomes Football  League referee

REFEREE Sam Allison, who is a former George Ward School student and Melksham local, has been promoted to the English Football League (EFL).

His promotion from county-level to the EFL makes him the only black match official in the top four English divisions and the first since Uriah Rennie, who retired in 2009.

In the new season Sam will referee games in Leagues One and Two – which includes clubs like Sunderland, Portsmouth, Coventry City and Ipswich – while still continuing his career in the fire service as a watch manager at Trowbridge Fire Station.

Speaking to Melksham News about his promotion, Sam said, “It’s funny, as I am not normally one for celebrating my own successes, because I’m always looking for what I can do next. So when I got the news, I thought to myself that I have to embrace this and give myself a pat on the back – I have worked really hard, I have done well. Enjoy the moment.

“It means so much to get to this level, so I have been celebrating with my family – but I couldn’t go crazy, I had a game the next day, Bristol Rovers against Exeter. So it was a shandy and a bit of reflection!”

About being the only black match official  in English football’s top four divisions, Sam said, “It makes me feel really proud – it has been difficult, it hasn’t been an easy road, I have had to persevere and push through adversity and challenges. 

“In this role I am representing black people, people who are ‘different’, so it does come with an air of pressure, but to be a referee you have to deal with pressure as well. 

“Uriah Rennie has been on the phone to me to show his support, his appreciation. Again, that reinforces the achievement, and that makes me feel really proud.

“I’m not doing this just for Sam Allison, I’m doing this for everybody who looks like me, everyone who feels that society isn’t necessarily fair to them, everybody who looks different to the norm, people who have had challenges in all walks of life.

“Hopefully I can show people that with perseverance, resilience, and hard work, you can achieve your goals. I’m a believer that if you can’t see it, you can’t be it – representation matters – it’s difficult to aspire to something when you can’t see anyone that looks like you in that position.  

“And if by me being a football referee gives someone that extra bit of hope that you can be successful – that’s what this is all about. It’s about trying to help, mentor, coach, anyone in the community that may face challenges. If I can help someone, I will.

“I could not have done this on my own, there have been so many people that have helped me along my journey – family, friends, the fire service, the Professional Game Match Officials Limited, and the FA – can’t emphasise enough how much support they have all given me.

“But for me it doesn’t stop at becoming a football referee, I want to be as good as my ability allows.”