A world-class referee who has officiated Premier League fixtures for over ten years, Kevin Friend will be a guest speaker at next month’s Future Leaders Conference.
Friend began refereeing at the age of 14 in his hometown Leicestershire, making his mark in local football and Midlands leagues before climbing all the way up the Football League pyramid.
In 2009, he became part of the elite group who officiate in the top flight. He has taken charge of several key fixtures since, including the 2013 League Cup final and the 2019 FA Cup final at Wembley Stadium. Having refereed a total of 244 matches in the Premier League, and handed out 30 red cards, Friend is well-experienced in making vital decisions under immense pressure.
The art of refereeing has, however, changed considerably in recent years with the introduction of VAR. Friend will provide a fascinating insight into how this has affected the game, as well as the decision-making process behind several controversial moments in recent months.
Friend joins a number of elite guest speakers on the day, including England World Cup winner Sir Geoff Hurst, St. George's park manager Holly Murdoch and a host of UCFB alumni.
Click here to register your attendance for the 2021 Future Leaders Conference.
