RJ began refereeing at age 14 and now regularly officiates both youth and adult matches across Somerset. Despite facing challenges like handing out a red card in his first game, he has developed confidence and taken full responsibility for his decisions.
The keen football player, who started refereeing to get more involved in the game, says the role has helped him in all areas of his life. Martin Peters from Somerset FA notes it's unusual for a 16-year-old to referee adult games, making RJ's achievement particularly unique as the association works to encourage more young referees into the adult game.