Football NSW confirms match officials for inaugural Deploy Association Championships
Football NSW has confirmed the selection of match officials for the inaugural Deploy Association Championships, set to take place from Tuesday 7 July to Thursday 9 July 2026 at the Glen Willow Regional Sports Complex in Mudgee.
The event will bring together teams from 16 Football NSW Member Associations in a unique state-wide celebration of football, uniting players, coaches and referees for a three-day tournament designed to showcase talent and development pathways across New South Wales.
Of the nominations received from referee branches across the state, junior match officials representing 17 different local referee branches have been selected, highlighting the depth of emerging officiating talent within the Football NSW system.
The selected officials will be supported by 11 referee coaches appointed by Football NSW to work alongside the Referees Department throughout the tournament. Many of these coaches are experienced match officials currently involved in A-Leagues and National Premier Leagues NSW competitions, bringing elite-level insight to the development environment.
For those selected, the Championships will serve as both a competitive and educational experience, with pre-tournament training and development sessions followed by ongoing mentoring during the event itself. Officials will receive detailed feedback across matches in which they are appointed, assisting their growth as both referees and assistant referees.
Football NSW has positioned the tournament as a key talent identification opportunity, with strong potential for participants to progress along the officiating pathway.
Football NSW Referees Development and Education Manager Emma Kocbek said the event will play a vital role in nurturing the next generation of officials.
“Tournaments like this are a great opportunity for young referees to get access to top level training and feedback so they can develop their skills, as well as work with different teams and different referees than they normally would,” Kocbek said.
“Thank you to all our community referee branches for their support of the tournament by nominating their talented junior officials.”
The Deploy Association Championships will mark a major milestone for Football NSW, strengthening the connection between grassroots football and elite officiating pathways while celebrating the officials who help the game thrive across the state.
Selected Match Officials – Deploy Association Championships 2026
Listed in alphabetical order.
Abigail Stone – Nepean Referees Group (NRG)
Adam Tinsley – North West Sydney Football Referees Association (NWSFRA)
Aiden Micallef – Mudgee District Referees
Aloz Dahal – Macarthur District Football Referees Association (MDFRA)
Amelia Lubke – Nepean Referees Group (NRG)
Amirah Sergas – Manly Warringah Football Referees Association (MWFRA)
Anara Banks – Macarthur District Football Referees Association (MDFRA)
Anna Lucas – Northern Suburbs Football Referees
Athan Bris – Canterbury Referees Association Incorporated (CRA)
Beatrice Shimada – Canterbury Referees Association Incorporated (CRA)
Benjamin Neave – Eastern Suburbs Football Association Referees (ESFAR)
Brayden Bennett – Blacktown City Soccer Referees Branch Inc
Connor Hokin – North West Sydney Football Referees Association (NWSFRA)
Dominique Ashton – Hills Football Referees
Edward Hall – Hills Football Referees
Ethan Napper – St George Football Referees Association Inc (SGFRA)
Ewan Ruskin – Northern Suburbs Football Referees
Gabriella Whitehead – Blacktown City Soccer Referees Branch Inc
Georgie Calleia – Manly Warringah Football Referees Association (MWFRA)
Isaac Matthews – Central Coast Football Referees (CCF)
Ivan Hrzenjak – St George Football Referees Association Inc (SGFRA)
Ivy Nguyen – Sutherland Shire Football Referees Association (SSFRA)
Jacinta Aoun – Bankstown District Referees (BDR)
Jack Govers – Sutherland Shire Football Referees Association (SSFRA)
Jana D’Souza – Granville District Football Referees Association
Kaylah McMahon – Bankstown District Referees (BDR)
Kyan Farmer – Sutherland Shire Football Referees Association (SSFRA)
Lachlan Selby – Macarthur District Football Referees Association (MDFRA)
Leo Farrelly – Southern Districts Referees (SDR)
Leon Panopoulos – Bankstown District Referees (BDR)
Lilly Martin – North West Sydney Football Referees Association (NWSFRA)
Lily Davoren – Eastern Suburbs Football Association Referees (ESFAR)
Lily McMahon – Bathurst Football Referees Association
Logan Chapman – Bathurst Football Referees Association
Lucy Davoren – Eastern Suburbs Football Association Referees (ESFAR)
Lukas Bayley – Bankstown District Referees (BDR)
Mackenzie Anthony – Macarthur District Football Referees Association (MDFRA)
Madeleine Hulme – Southern Districts Referees (SDR)
Maya Michel – Sutherland Shire Football Referees Association (SSFRA)
Michael Di Veroli – Eastern Suburbs Football Association Referees (ESFAR)
Milla Cutler – Bathurst Football Referees Association
Myeesha Szabo – Blacktown City Soccer Referees Branch Inc
Nicholas Yfantis – Canterbury Referees Association Incorporated (CRA)
Reuben Borg – Granville District Football Referees Association
Rory Forster – Bathurst Football Referees Association
Scarlett Neculman – Granville District Football Referees Association
Siena MacCullagh – Bathurst Football Referees Association
Sophia Long – Mudgee District Referees
Tessa Goddard – North West Sydney Football Referees Association (NWSFRA)
Thomas Musgrave – Blacktown City Soccer Referees Branch Inc
Usha Arbabi – Manly Warringah Football Referees Association (MWFRA)
Vienna Roy – Nepean Referees Group (NRG)
Wyatt Mcquire – Mudgee District Referees
Xavier Mobbs – Nepean Referees Group (NRG)
