Lincolnshire Referee, Rob Atkin, will hang up his boots and retire as an Assistant Referee on the Football League at the end of the 2022/23 season after a highly successful career.

He commenced in 2009 and recently completed his 200th game on the line at the top level of the game.

Rob began his time as a Referee when he was 27. A Sunday League game he was playing in did not have a Referee and so decided it was time to step up and take the course himself. 

He commenced Refereeing in the local Scunthorpe Saturday League whilst still playing on a Sunday.

Having previously represented England three times in Europe at Tug of War, his “never give in” spirit would serve him well as a progressing Match Official. 

He has also once taken on the role of Referee when an injury in the warm-up meant he was promoted to the middle for MK Dons v Birmingham City.

Earlier this season, whilst attending Leeds United v Bournemouth as a spectator, another mishap in the pre-match preparations meant he received the call to make his Premier League debut on the line.

As Chairman of Scunthorpe RA for the past nine years, Rob has always given his time to supporting new and up and coming Referees in Lincolnshire. Whether that be taking groups to tournaments abroad or at Scunthorpe United Academy on a Sunday morning. 

He has been an FA CORE Coach for many years as well as a member of the Lincolnshire FA Referee Committee. 

Referee Development Manager at Lincolnshire FA, Michael Brader, said “Rob has flown the flag for Lincolnshire for so many years in the professional game. He may be stepping down from the professional arena, but I know we will still see him out on pitches across the County, either in the middle or supporting our Referees from the touch line.”

Happy Retirement, Rob!