Huddersfield Town fan and professional football referee Bobby Madley has been presented with a special international cap.
The inaugural National Referee Recognition Awards were held at Wembley Stadium.
As well as the 12 main awards, referees who had represented the FA in international appointments across the world received their international caps with Madley being one of them.
Madley received his cap for services to FIFA between the years 2016 and 2018. The 37-year-old started his career refereeing in the Wakefield and District League and then moved onto the West Yorkshire Association Football League.
He worked his way to the very top and in 2013 officiated his first Premier League match between Southampton and West Brom.
On receiving his cap Madley said: “Being appointed to the FIFA List of Referees for the start of 2016 to represent the FA on the international stage was without doubt one of the highlights of my career.
“Having officiated at UEFA U19 Euro Qualifying mini tournaments in Sweden and Serbia in early 2016, I was appointed to referee my first Europa League game in Poland between Zagłębie Lubin and Sønderjyske of Denmark.
“Standing on the field before a game and hearing the Champions League anthem play is a surreal moment that makes the hairs on your arms stand on end.
“I was fortunate enough to officiate in 23 countries including refereeing a match between Australia and Greece in Melbourne.
“Representing not only the FA but also West Riding on this stage was a huge privilege and to receive recognition of this with the international cap is something I will always treasure.
“Refereeing in places such as Azerbaijan and North Macedonia may seem a long way from Thornes Park in Wakefield or Spring Mill in Ossett but without the support I have received from my early days in the Wakefield Leagues, Heavy Woollen RA and WRCFA, none of that would have been possible.
“The cap will always serve to remind me of where it started at Altofts Cricket Club and the opportunities refereeing can offer you potentially on a worldwide scale.”
