North Riding FA match official Tom Ross has been named Michael Yendall Referee of the Year for 2019.

Each year North Riding FA presents the annual Michael Yendall Referee of the Year Award to one of our Centre of Referee Excellence (CORE) referees in memory of Michael Yendall - a very talented up and coming referee who tragically passed away in 2011.   

Last night at our Senior Cup Final, we presented the 2019 award to Tom Ross, who is a young referee from Redcar who was also appointed as assistant referee for the final.

Tom, who is now the eighth winner of this award, has had an excellent season which included a trip to the Iber Cup in Lisbon last summer to represent North Riding FA

Michael’s parents, David and Tracy (pictured) were our guests at the Riverside Stadium last night to once again present the award.

Ross Joyce, Referee Development Manager at North Riding FA (pictured with Tom, right), said: “Michael was a great lad and was held in high esteem as a referee. Everything about him was professional. He was very talented and there’s no doubt he was going to a high level.

“When we heard of his death it hit everyone here at North Riding and we wanted to do something to remember him by, so we came up with the annual award.

“Everyone at North Riding FA would like to congratulate Tom Ross on winning the 2019 award.”