There will be a new assistant referee in the Premier League this season, with Akil Howson being promoted to Select Group 1 and now largely operating in the top flight.
Howson is among 14 officials from PGMOL’s Development Group, which was formed last summer, who will begin the new campaign at least one level above where they started last season.
The Development Group of officials with high potential was formed as part of the implementation of the Elite Referee Development Plan (ERDP) last summer, with 30 per cent of the 28 referees and assistant referees in the group being Black, Asian or Mixed Heritage.
Referees and assistant referees in the Development Group were provided with over 250 opportunities to perform in higher divisions throughout last season, with many excelling consistently and proving themselves ready to take charge of matches on a more regular basis at a higher level in 2023/24.
For the new-look PGMOL, the key focuses of the ERDP include continuing to enhance standards across refereeing now and in the years to come, providing wider elite performance wrap-around support and creating a broader pool of diverse match officials.
The group of 14 join 36 fellow match officials who were promoted via the traditional pathways following the conclusion of the 2022/23 season, meaning a total of 50 officials will start the new campaign at a higher level as PGMOL continues to ensure talent is identified.
A second cohort of officials will also be joining the Development Group ahead of the 2023/24 campaign.
