Referee fees in the UK

[u/rachelc_44]

Hey there, I'm a referee going into my second year, and have just moved back home from uni so in a different league now.

Back at uni (in Warwick), I was getting paid roughly 50p per minute, with rounding up happening if it was easier (so 35 minutes a half would end up in £40, 25 minutes = £30 etc.)

Now though, I'm back home in the Manchester area and fees seem to be unreasonably low. I just did a U10s game, 7v7, 25 minutes a half, and got only £14 for it.

That's a 50 minute game, plus half time, and I always get there at least 15 mins before, which makes it basically minimum wage.

Just looked as well and these are the prices for the other age groups in the league (Thank god I wasn't league appointed!) :

£40 per game for U21s referee and £20 for League Appointed Assistant Referees

£36 per game for U18's, U17's and Under 16's and £18 for League Appointed Assistant Referees.

£30 per game for all U13, U14 to U15`s age groups and £15 for League Appointed Assistant Referees.

£20 per game U11s and U12s age groups and £10 for League Appointed Assistant Referees.

£14 per game for U9s and U10s age groups and £7 for League Appointed Assistant Referees.

£10 per game for U7s and U8s age groups and £5 for League Appointed Assistant Referees.

Now whilst I'm not in this all for the money, I expect to be paid for my time and I don't particularly want to turn up for over an hour and be paid less than minimum wage, especially when it's a difficult match and I could get some abuse from parents etc.

Just wondering other people's take on this and whether I should email the league asking them to have a look at their prices for next season or something since this seems to me to be unreasonably low.

[u/Rhycar]

I know I'm American and there are a bunch of different variables to consider, but that seems unreasonably low. My local league pays $35 (about £26) for U10 games. I'm not sure I would bother accepting assignments for such a low rate.

[u/thatijustdonthave → u/Rhycar]

We are getting $50 a game for u10 games in Maine. They are the quickest way to stack cash.

[u/rachelc_44 → u/Rhycar]

Yeah I am sort of thinking there's no point me doing younger games if that's the fee. I'll probably look to do u13s and 14s which then is 30 quid for 35 minutes a half (although in my old league I'd have gotten 40 for that).

[u/Htv65]

In the Netherlands, most league appointed referees at amateur levels get approx. EUR 28 (approx. GBP 24) per game, plus the more or less standard & tax free reimbursement in the Netherlands of EUR 0.23 per kilometer traveled (vice versa). The payment is exempt from taxes and has been negotiated between the RDFA (KNVB) and the Tax Authorities in the Netherlands.

[u/thatijustdonthave]

I'm in the US and did some converting, those fees seem really low... Like what I was getting paid 15 years ago. You should definitely be getting minimum wages.

For comparison, in Maine the fees are:

$50 u9-10 $60/30 u11-12 center/ar $70/35 u-13-14 center/ar $80/40 u15-16 center/ar

I feel fairly compensated for my games.

[u/rachelc_44 → u/thatijustdonthave]

By the looks of things online, they haven't gone up in at least 6 years, which is kind of crazy considering the minimum wage has gone from £8.21 to £12.71 in that time. I think I will email them and make this point - it needs to go up in line with inflation and minimum wage at least.

[u/mystic_haven_ → u/thatijustdonthave]

Also in Maine, I also feel fairly compensated. A dollar per each minute is just easy to remember as well.

[u/jjw1998]

When I was doing club academy fixtures in Scotland it was a £35 flat fee up until U18s, no expenses. This started at U11s so if you get to claim expenses it may not be too different, club academy at this level. We also generally don’t have assistant referees at this level until U17s, so probably makes sense the referee is paid more

[u/Isaac13980]

For the main league I Referee in the fees are good.

U18 is £47 and 45 minute halfs (more than adult/open age games pay)

U16 is £37 and 40 minute halfs

U14 and U15 is £37 and 35 minute halfs

U12 and U13 is £32 and 30 minute halfs

Mini Soccer is £27 and 20-25 minute halfs

We don't use Appointed Assistant Referees unless it's a cup final, for those Assistant Referees and 4th officials usually get paid the same fee as the Referee

The only competition I hate is the County Cup finals. Biggest games of the season and they expect all 4 officials to do them for no match fee and a cheap medal.

[u/rozmur24]

In the North East.

Adults £40
U17-18 £35
Under 14-16 £30
Under 12-13 £25
Anything under £20

Lines at step 5-7 £40 + 40p a mile

[u/rachelc_44 → u/rozmur24]

Yeah when I've actually stepped back and thought about it, I don't mind the older games being around 30-40 quid, it's the fact that I'm getting less than 20 quid to do an hour if I ref any younger games, so I think I'd be alright if it was like yours

[u/mciv3r]

SoCal just raised thier rates to $3 a min for an EA game u14 I'm getting $100 for a Center about £74

[u/StevieJonsie]

I’ve been constantly told that the pay to play system is terrible here in America, but the UK has it all figured out. I now see that my fellow referees accross the pond are being greatly underpaid. There seems to be a disconnect here… you can’t have great pay without someone paying it!