Former Premier League assistant referee Simon Long takes up key Devon FA role
Devon FA welcome new referee from the Premier League
Devon County FA have appointed experienced official Simon Long as their new Referee Workforce Officer, with the aim of strengthening the recruitment, development and support of match officials across the county.
Long will begin the role in November, bringing extensive experience from both professional and grassroots football to the position.
He has spent 19 years involved in professional football, including 17 years on the Premier League Assistant Referees list, a role he will continue alongside his new responsibilities with Devon County FA.
He also has a strong background in referee development and appointments, having previously worked as a Referee Development Officer with Suffolk FA and as National League System Match Official Appointments Officer for the Southwest Pool.
In his new position, Long will focus on engaging with referees throughout Devon, ensuring they receive the guidance, support and development opportunities needed to progress through the game.
Long said: “I am delighted to be joining the team at Devon County FA and can’t wait to get started.
“We have an incredibly committed and passionate workforce, and I am looking forward to working alongside them to ensure we are providing the best possible experience for match officials, whether they are at the start of their journey or have been involved for many years.”
Devon County FA Head of Delivery Matt Hodgson welcomed the appointment, highlighting the experience Long will bring to the organisation.
“We’re really pleased to be welcoming someone of Simon’s stature to the team,” he said.
“We’re confident that he will be able to empower, develop and grow our refereeing community, drawing on his experiences to help our referee workforce be the best that they can be.”
Devon County FA chief executive Chris French described the appointment as a significant step forward in the organisation’s support for match officials.
“This is a really significant appointment, and we feel that with Simon in post, we can take the service we deliver to our match officials to the next level,” he said.
“I am looking forward to seeing Simon implement his approach and watching the refereeing community thrive.”
The appointment underlines Devon County FA’s commitment to building a stronger refereeing workforce and creating an environment in which officials at every level can develop their skills and enjoy their involvement in the game.