28-year-old George Byrne from West Row was the assistant referee at the League Two Play-Off Final between Exeter City and Northampton at Wembley Stadium last night (Monday 29^th June).

George, who is secretary of the Bury St Edmunds Referees Association, was named the Match Official of the Year in the FA and McDonald’s Grassroots Football Awards in 2018.

He made his debut in the EFL Championship earlier this month when he was an assistant referee at the match between Reading and Stoke City.

Earlier this year George was appointed as Reserve Assistant Referee for this season’s Leasing.Com Trophy Final.

The final between Salford City and Portsmouth was scheduled to take place at Wembley Stadium in early April but was postponed due to the COVID-19 pandemic. It is hoped to play the match ahead of the 2020-21 season.

That appointment followed on from George’s first experience of international football when he was an assistant referee as England Under-17s defeated the Czech Republic 2-0 last November.

George, who said he was ‘absolutely thrilled to be selected’ to represent his country, was named the Match Official of the Year in the FA and McDonald’s Grassroots Football Awards in 2018.