Nathan Mattick will be celebrating his 13th year refereeing next month and his passion for the game shows no signs of slowing down. “I just enjoy what I do and I don’t have any plans to retire any time soon,” says Nathan, who made history as the first wheelchair-using referee in the UK.
Born with cerebral palsy, Nathan has been a football fan from a young age. He recalls the specific moment watching a match with his father that sparked his ambition.
“I noticed the role of the match officials,” he says. “We've got a referee, an assistant referee, and the fourth official. I thought to myself: ‘Why can't I become a referee?’”
Nathan began by officiating his friends’ matches during school breaks and then in PE lessons. He eventually enrolled at the National Star College in Cheltenham to study sports science, where staff helped him realise that his dream of becoming a referee was attainable.
To take the next step, Nathan contacted the Gloucestershire FA and spoke to Steve Tanner, a former Premier League referee. Through a collaboration between Steve and the college, Nathan joined a refereeing course. After completing the day-long training, he qualified officially.
Despite his determination, Nathan faced initial scepticism. “People would say you can't become a referee because you have a disability, or because you're in a wheelchair,” admits Nathan.
“I thought there would be a lot of challenges because of my additional needs, but I told myself I’d never know if I didn’t try.”
Today, Nathan primarily referees games for the Gloucestershire Ability Counts League, for players with disabilities.
While he wasn't sure what to expect from players and coaches initially, the response has been overwhelmingly warm. “They thought it was a fantastic thing to see, proving that football is for absolutely everybody,” says Nathan.
Nathan’s advice for anyone pursuing a passion is simple: “Go for it. Remain positive, do your very best, and take small steps.”
