Northern NSW Football is delighted to announce that three of its match officials have been selected in Football Australia’s National Referee Academy for 2025.
Joshua Attard, Sam Stewart and Lucy Hungerford are three of 13 match officials selected for the second intake of the National Referee Academy, which will see emerging referees and assistant referees commence a two-year program.
The National Referee Academy will feature dedicated referee education, training and mentoring to provide greater individual support and cover technical, physical and mental aspects to help accelerate development.
The National Referee Academy is aligned with Football Australia’s XI Principles and adopts a holistic approach to developing match officials, ensuring they are well-prepared for the demands of professional football domestically and globally.
NNSWF General Manager Referee Growth and Development Brad Carlin was thrilled with the announcement.
“The selection of Lucy, Joshua and Sam for the Football Australia National Referee Academy is not just a glowing testament to their skills, talent and work ethic but also to our referee coaches and assessors who have educated them so well,” Carlin said.
“As the academy bridges the gap between our NNSW NPL competitions and the national A-Leagues competitions, the next two years will help prepare our representatives for the demands of professional football and further opportunities to advance along the development pathway.
“Having three match officials selected is fantastic news for all match officials across northern NSW as it confirms that we have the talent in our ranks to compete with the best officials in Australia. It is an outstanding achievement.”
More than 30 referees were nominated by their respective member federations, with the final 13 match officials selected by a panel which consisted of former FIFA referee Jacqui Hurford, former A-League Men assistant referee Daniel Goodwin and a selection of Football Australia’s full-time referees.
NNSWF CEO Peter Haynes congratulated the trio on their selection.
“This is a wonderful achievement for Joshua, Sam and Lucy and we wish them all the best for their future development,” Haynes said.
“It’s also a testament to the fine work being done by Brad Carlin and his team and I look forward to supporting Joshua, Sam and Lucy further on their journey towards the A-Leagues and beyond.”
The National Referee Academy’s second intake will commence in January.
Become a match official in 2025 HERE!
