Over 1200 teams from ages U11 to U19 compete in the Dana Cup, which takes place in Hjorring in the north of Denmark. All of the main ‘A’ team finals take place at Hjorring’s main stadium, where recently Manchester City Ladies took on Hjorring’s Ladies team in the Women’s Champions League.

Dana Cup opening day in 2016.

This will be the third successive year that Surrey FA’s Referee Development will be at the Dana Cup, and this year the return with four young referees. This includes Steven Matthews, 21, who recently completed his promotion to Level 4, Bradley Whiteman, 18, who is hoping for his promotion to Level 6, Callum Peter, 18, who was recently promoted to Level 5, and Shawn Barclay, who is in the Level 4 promotion scheme. These four referees are all products of the Surrey FA Referees Academy, and have each progressed into the Development Group.

Whilst at the tournament, the referees will receive technical coaching sessions, as well as daily sessions which feature feedback on the games they officiate in Denmark. This will also be combined with photos from these games, which help provide context to certain areas of feedback.

To keep up to date with all of the proceedings at the Dana Cup, check back at the Surrey FA website, where we will provide a daily diary entry from our young referees and staff.