TEENAGE Maldon referee Liam Spreadbury has been voted Essex FA Grassroots Match Official of the Year for 2021, writes JON LONGMAN.

Liam, 17, has been a referee for three years, officiating in the Essex & Suffolk Border League on Saturdays and the Blackwater & Dengie Youth League on Sundays.

Liam said: “I am delighted to have been awarded the Essex FA Grassroots Match Official of The Year 2021.

“I feel honoured to have been recognised for my progression this year within grassroots refereeing.

“I have been refereeing for three and a half years starting at the age of 14!

“I have enjoyed developing my career by initially officiating at youth games.

“This has developed to older youth age groups which I particularly enjoy as the players are more passionate and those games can be more challenging.

“The Essex FA were keen to fast track me to adult refereeing which I began doing at the age of 17.

“I am looking forward to the coming season where I am already booked to referee pre-season friendlies for Heybridge Swifts and also look forward to continuing with the Essex Suffolk and Border League on a Saturday and Youth games on a Sunday.”

Liam’s interest in football began as a spectator at Heybridge Swifts and he is expecting cheeky comments from Swifts fans as he takes charge of pre-season games at the Aspen Waite Arena.

Liam added: “I am a part of the team of officials for all of the Swifts pre-season friendlies. I am ‘reffing’ three of the games and I will be assistant for the rest.”

Football runs in the family as his dad, Steve, is general manager at the Swifts and his mum, Lucy, is a regular spectator at the Scraley Road ground.

Spreadbury senior added: “Lucy and I are so proud of Liam and how he is progressing as a referee.”