Joel Mannix- Chairman
FA Referee Level 2b
07973 445508
Having starting my referee journey in 2009 after Uriah Rennie hung up his whistle I decided that I could follow in his footsteps and become the next best thing, on my journey I found that there were many obstacles that came way but being the individual I am I decided to proceed having been told that level 4 was my highest ceiling I wondered which other BAME refs were having been told the same thing,
Having achieved my level 2b status I wondered how many other refs were finding this journey difficult because of the colour of the skin hence I sat down with some past and present BAME refs shared our stories and hence BAME REF SUPPORT.
When I'm not on the green stuff I run my own security company look after celebrities and VIPs and also work as a Paramedic always looking to help.
BAME refs support within the last 3 years has moved on leaps and bounds with the 3 main Rs
Representation, Recruitment and Retention, I’ve always said I wont referee in the promised land ( premiership) but if we can knock at the doors, break barriers then one day our representation would have paid off.
Aji Ajibola- Vice Chairman
Aji Ajibola is Vice Chairman of the BAME Referee Support Group and a serving member of the Football Association in a voluntary role on the FA Council as a National Game Football Communities Representative. He is an accomplished, highly organized, and strategic problem solver with a history of profound success within commercial and enterprise business environment.
A 20 years serving active referee currently at level 2A, Aji has been involved in spearheading several inclusion and diversity initiatives on multiple platforms to increase awareness and help organizations widen their access to talent pools from BAME backgrounds that will help drive improved culture, productivity, and performance.
He is a passionate leader who creates successful teams and a winning culture through leading by example and through experience.
Shelley Alexander- Secretary
Shelley Alexander is the Secretary of the BAME Referee Support Group. She helped start the group as part of her outreach partnership work when she worked for BBC Sport. Shelley is an Equality, Diversity and Inclusion freelance consultant and also chairs the FA’s Equality of Refereeing Opportunity Group.
Phil Sharp- Special Advisor
Phil has been actively refereeing for 40 years and has gone from grassroots football to the highest levels in the game. He has now returned to grassroots officiating.
He was a Premier League Assistant for 18 years and a FIFA Assistant Referee for 13 years, officiating in 180 international matches.
The highlights of his career are the 2002 World Cup Final in Japan between Brazil v Germany, the 2004 Olympic Games Football Final in Athens and the 1999 FA Cup Final at Wembley all as an Assistant Referee.
After retiring from the professional game, Phil became an instructor and worked in Cyprus and Turkey and was UEFA’s AR Coach for EURO 2012 in Poland/Ukraine and EURO 2016 in France.
For the past 12 years Phil was also the Referee Development Officer for Hertfordshire FA up until December 2020 and amassed a wealth of grassroots football refereeing knowledge supporting and developing referees.
He is also an FA Licensed Developer, tutoring on referee courses and developing new referees for the future.
Minesh Gupta- Membership Secretary
Minesh is currently a Level 3 CORE Referee.
Minesh spent 16 years in public services serving as a Police Officer and now works as a Key Account Manager having started a new Career. Minesh is also a school parent governor at Hallam Fields Primary School as Governance is important to him.
Minesh has been a football referee for 25 years within Leicestershire & Rutland County FA. He is also a FA Tutor/Developer and tutors within two disciplines, Refereeing and Safeguarding. Minesh also sits as a National Chair & Wing Member for The FA Judicial Services and adjudicates anti-discrimination serious cases and assaults on Match Officials.
Minesh is also a FA Referee Representative at step 5/6.
Minesh has assisted Leicestershire & Rutland County FA in supporting their Referee BAME targets with project related activity focusing on Referee recruitment & retention over the years.
Finally Minesh is also a Match Officials Event Consultant at St Georges Park, contracted by the FA.
Ian Stewart- Communication Officer
Ian Stewart started refereeing over 10 years ago, after he gave up playing semi-professional football. Despite always believing that refereeing wasn’t for him, once he started he wished he had taken up the whistle sooner!
During his time as a referee he climbed the levels to Level 3 being part of FA Core groups. Refereeing gave him some fantastic experiences such as officiating in Portugal, France, Norway and more.
He is now dedicated to helping fellow referees and sharing his skills and knowledge, wherever and whenever possible.
Val Anekwe- Safeguarding Officer
Hi, I am Val Anekwe. Level 3 Ref. I came into refereeing just over 12 years ago through running the line for my now oldest son. Once I took up the whistle, it became addictive and thoroughly enjoyable. It is something I would encourage anyone to do and am now involved in observing, mentoring coaching. Outside of refereeing, I am head of behaviour at a secondary school and a teacher of science.
To relax, I enjoy taking part in quiz completions, travelling (one unfulfilled ambition, is to visit every African country) and I am an avid record collector. The collection ranges from rock, pop, classical to reggae. I have been known to go to different parts of the country buying collections that are unwanted.
Jawahir Roble- Women's game Officer
I'm Jawahir Roble, a 3W Referee as well as a coach .
I adore football, and I hope that one day it will be available to everyone.
I hold a bachelor's degree in football coaching and management.
