‘Referee of the Season’ Lola Pollard promoted to WSL2

Award-winning local young match official Lola Pollard topped off a successful season in the middle with promotion to WSL 2 for 2025/26.

After an impressive campaign officiating matches in the FA Women’s National League, Lola – who put her playing career as a goalkeeper for Maidenhead United in the FAWNL on hold to concentrate on her refereeing and her studies – has been promoted to Step 3/4 Assistant Referee. Lola is one of four female officials who have been promoted to act as assistant referees in the fully professional second tier of women’s football.

“It’s a bit of an odd thing to like” Watch Lola Pollard accept her Referee of the Season award

Lola – who was deservedly crowned Football In Berkshire ‘Referee Of The Year’ at our annual awards last month – reflected: “I found out in May that I had been chosen to go through the selection for 2WAR, and I had to undergo a test following my performance across the season. Then a few weeks later I received a call while I was at the gym saying I had been selected for the promotion and I was just a completely surreal experience. I was probably just smiling like a the Cheshire Cat in the gym and everyone around me probably thought I was a bit weird for being so happy in the gym!”

Modest Pollard admits: “It’s hard to say why I was chosen to be promoted when there is also so many talented individuals but I think a big part of it is having a goal and the passion to reach that goal. While in refereeing there’s so many ups and downs where you have really great games and sometimes may not always have the best game, I think a big factor is having the mindset I have to keep myself pushing forward. I’m always looking for areas I can improve from my fitness levels to technical ability and my ways of communicating with players.”

Lola has demonstrated an unflappable and unfussy approach to being put on the spot in matches and refers to “My ability to take on board feedback and development that I can constantly apply to my next game, so I’m able to improve my performance and give a satisfactory game to clubs, where they feel like they can play a good game of football with little hinderance. My aim while refereeing is to do it in a preventative manner so everyone can enjoy the game.” With her hard-work ethic and considered approach to the art of refereeing, it seems unlikely that WSL2 will be the ceiling for this approachable and open-minded young match official.