DARREN England became the third Barnsley man to referee an FA Cup final this week and said it was the pinnacle of his career.
The 40-year-old from Little Houghton took charge of Manchester City’s 1-0 win over Chelsea, settled by Antoine Semenyo’s remarkable backheel goal.
England completed a journey from local football leagues in Barnsley which has previously seen him be involved in the FA Cup final as an assistant referee then fourth official.
Darren followed in the footsteps of Arthur Holland who refereed the 1964 FA Cup final and Steve Lodge who took charge of the 1997 event.
Darren told the Chronicle: “Walking out at Wembley to referee the FA Cup final was a moment I will never forget.
“Coming from a normal working family and upbringing in Barnsley, I never imagined this as a young referee travelling around local grounds.
“The whole occasion was everything people say it is — the atmosphere, the emotion, the pride of leading the teams out and singing the national anthem, loudly.
“But what I’ll remember most is the support from family, friends, colleagues and the wider Barnsley community throughout the journey.
“One of the most special moments for me personally was being able to spot my family and friends in the crowd before and after the match and share a wave with them.
“In a stadium as big as Wembley, that was a moment that brought everything back to what really matters.”
Darren is hoping to have further experiences in refereeing.
His predecessor Holland refereed the European Cup final and Euros final in the 1960s.
“Refereeing has given me experiences I never thought possible and this final was the pinnacle of them all.
“At the same time, it doesn’t feel like the end of the journey.
“Experiences like this only make you more motivated to keep improving, keep learning and see what else might still be possible in the game.
“Whether that means more major finals, more opportunities on the international stage or helping inspire and support the next generation of referees, there are still plenty of ambitions and targets left to chase.
“Hopefully it also shows young people that you do not have to come from a special background for special things to happen. If you are willing to challenge yourself, step outside your comfort zone and keep pushing through setbacks, opportunities can open up that you never thought possible.”
Darren is due to finish his season by refereeing Liverpool against Brentford on Sunday.
