Sam Allison is set to become the first Black referee in the Premier League for 15 years, and only the second ever, when he takes charge of Sheffield United versus Luton on Boxing Day.
This achievement is a result of Professional Game Match Officials Limited (PGMOL) chief Howard Webb’s commitment to diversifying top-flight refereeing.
Allison, a 42-year-old former firefighter, has been refereeing for 12 years and was previously the only Black match official in the top four English divisions. His appointment marks a positive step towards increasing diversity in refereeing, with the number of non-white officials in the professional game still in single figures.
Allison’s journey to becoming a Premier League referee began at Swindon’s School of Excellence, where he played as a youngster. He went on to play semi-professionally at Chippenham Town and represented England schoolboys numerous times.
While Akil Howson became the first black, Asian, or mixed heritage permanent referee official since Uriah Rennie in August, he has yet to take charge of a Premier League game.
Allison’s appointment demonstrates the progress being made towards greater diversity in refereeing, and we can expect to see more diverse faces in the future.