Stacey took the FA Basic referees Course through Somerset FA seven years ago after our then Referee Development Officer, the late Keith Buller, asked her to undertake it thinking it would be useful to her career as a PE Teacher. Stacey was also a keen football player at this time so thought the additional knowledge of the Laws of the Game would too help her playing career. 

Stacey’s rise throughout the ranks of Refereeing now sees her officiate on Barclay’s FA Women’s Super League Matches, the highest level of domestic women’s football. In addition, Stacey is a Level 3 referee in the men’s game, officiating on Southern League and Western League Premier matches. As an assistant referee, Stacey can be seen in the National League and in the Premier League 2 (for U23 teams).

One of the highlights of Stacey’s career was as an assistant referee at the Women’s FA Cup Final at Wembley Stadium in 2018 against Chelsea and Arsenal
 
Stacey received notification from the FA’s head of Refereeing, David Ellery in September and the confirmation from UEFA that she had been accepted came through in early December. Stacey said that when she received the call she was “speechless” and that she is “obviously over the moon” at the news – as are we at Somerset FA!

Last year Stacey attended the UEFA CORE (Centre of Refereeing Excellence) in Switzerland, and she hopes that this elite training will benefit her new venture into officiating internationally. 

Of course, this is not Stacey’s first taste of officiating on the international stage, having been an assistant referee at an UEFA tournament in 2017, as a fourth official in the Women’s Champions League and then again as a fourth official at a Women’s 2021 Euros Qualifier in Iceland. 

Stacey will be attending an introductory course with FIFA in January 2020 where she will be expected to pass fitness tests and be taken through the expectations for the year. Within a few months of this, hopefully Stacey will receive her first international appointment as a FIFA List referee. Joining as a category three referee, Stacey will hope to climb the ladder up through levels two, one and then to Elite level.
 
Matt Eva, Referee Development Officer for Somerset FA said: “Everyone connected with Somerset FA is delighted to hear Stacey’s news. Everything she has achieved so far is down to her preparation, dedication and desire to constantly look for the extra 1% that will help her progress to the next level. Her attitude to her own development is a great example to any young referee with a desire to reach the top of the game, and proof that anything is possible with hard work and commitment. We wish Stacey every success with her new adventure and have no doubt she will do herself, and the county, proud”