Individuals gathered in the pavilion to discover which of the 20 finals they had earned an appointment to having been recognised for their commitment during the season. The county’s cups and trophies range from the Essex Senior Cup supported by BBC Essex through to grassroots and veterans competitions, as well as across the youth and female game. The officials received Nike rain jackets and commemorative ties and badges on the night.

Essex County FA Referee Development Officer, James Lisher, and Director Responsible for Referees, Wayne Deller, hosted the evening and ran through a number of the requirements both on the day and prior to the day of the game. These include preparation, communication, understanding of the competition format, in-game management and matchday kit.

James said: “A cup final is always one of the most special moments for a referee and it’s a real special occasion which all this year’s officials richly deserve. It gives us a sense of excitement to be able to present our best performing officials with a County Cup final appointment, which is a deserved reward for their efforts, and good marks, throughout the season. For some of the younger referees this could be the first of many prestige appointments.”

Under 14s Girls Cup (Sunday 15th March, 11:00am, Burnham Ramblers FC)
Referee: Gemma Gardiner (Clacton-on-Sea). Assistant Referees: Russell Clark (Leigh-on-Sea), James Craven (Canvey Island). Fourth Official: Warren Campbell (Basildon).

Under 16s Girls Cup (Sunday 15th March, 3:00pm, Burnham Ramblers FC)
Referee: Brian Forbes (Colchester). Assistant Referees: Peter Critchell (Upminster) and Nicholas Hodges (Hornchurch). Fourth Official: Paul Falvey (Hockley).

Saturday Veterans Cup (Wednesday 18th March, 7:45pm, Stanway Rovers FC)
Referee: Graham Bellingham (Grays). Assistant Referees: Terry Murley (Rayleigh) and Stephen Hatwell (Billericay). Fourth Official: Peter Kenton (Great Wakering).

Sunday Veterans Cup (Sunday 22nd March, 10:30am, Great Wakering Rovers FC)
Referee: Andrew French (Halstead). Assistant Referees: Jack North (Leigh-on-Sea) and Harry Deebank (Southend-on-Sea). Fourth Official: Richard Marsh (Wickford).

Cordell Under 13s Cup (Sunday 22nd March, 3:00pm, Great Wakering Rovers FC)
Referee: David Macartney (Wickford). Assistant Referees: Robert Sedgwick (Dagenham) and Zak Turner (Chelmsford). Fourth Official: Julian Baines (Stanway).

Saturday Junior Trophy (Wednesday 25th March, 7:45pm, Bowers & Pitsea FC)
Referee: Kirk Edwards (Shoeburyness). Assistant Referees: Nicholas Gliddon (Braintree) and Elliot Mercer (Ilford). Fourth Official: Neil Mathieson (Maldon).

Sunday Junior Cup (Sunday 29th March, 10:30am, Brightlingsea Regent FC)
Referee: Ray Wells (East London). Assistant Referees: Sven Wood (Shoeburyness) and Matthew Horton (Wickford). Fourth Official: David Feline (Colchester).

Women’s Cup (Thursday 2nd April, 7:45pm, AFC Hornchurch)
Referee: Peter Wilson (Chelmsford). Assistant Referees: Wayne Ratford (Braintree) and Reece Morley (Romford). Fourth Official: Andy Pilbrow (Chelmsford).

Saturday Premier Cup (Wednesday 8th April, 7:45pm, Thurrock FC)
Referee: David Tregaskes (Chelmsford). Assistant Referees: Neil Lawson (Basildon) and Jack Lock (Frinton-on-Sea). Fourth Official: Edward Smith (Hornchurch).

Sunday Junior Trophy (Sunday 12th April, 10:30am, Saffron Walden Town FC)
Referee: Andrew Bowerman (Ilford). Assistant Referees: George Lowe (Stanway) and Ashley Butler (Felsted). Fourth Official: Paul Stratton (Upminster).

Women’s Trophy (Sunday 12th April, 3:00pm, Saffron Walden Town FC)
Referee: Mick Debens (Romford). Assistant Referees: Chris Noble (Dagenham) and Ricky Judd (Purfleet). Fourth Official: Dan Harrington (Westcliff-on-Sea).

Cassells Under 16s Cup (Wednesday 15th April, 7:45pm, Billericay Town FC)
Referee: Eugene Robinson (Chelmsford). Assistant Referees: Matt Davis (Westcliff-on-Sea) and Ola Omotosho (Aveley). Fourth Official: Jon Pickford (Leigh-on-Sea).

Under 12s Cup (Sunday 19th April, 11:00am, Burnham Ramblers FC)
Referee: Dean Price (Upminster). Assistant Referees: Harry Dunnett (Rayleigh) and Oliver Pears (Romford). Fourth Official: Martin Forrester (Chelmsford).

Under 11s Cup (Sunday 19th April, 2:30pm, Burnham Ramblers FC)
Referee: Charlie Grimme-Yexley (Romford). Assistant Referees: Callum Dorling (Harlow) and Thomas Kiernan (Colchester). Fourth Official: Andrew Stock (Bishop’s Stortford).

Senior Cup (Monday 20th April, 7:45pm, Dagenham & Redbridge FC)
Referee: Nick Kinseley (Rayleigh). Assistant Referees: Stuart Cheek (Ilford) and Craig Pullen (Romford). Fourth Official: Rob Hyde (Brentwood).

Saturday Junior Cup (Wednesday 22nd April, 7:45pm, Maldon & Tiptree FC)
Referee: Thomas Whay (Harlow). Assistant Referees: Richard Baker (Colchester) and Callum Cockley (Romford). Fourth Official: Karl Dunnage (Basildon).

Andrews Under 14s Cup (Sunday 26th April, 11:00am, Aveley FC)
Referee: Chris Cooper (Basildon). Assistant Referees: Reece Pinchback (Wickford) and Jamie Wood (Romford). Fourth Official: Steve Carpenter (North Weald).

Rosser Under 15s Cup (Sunday 26th April, 3:00pm, Aveley FC)
Referee: Alex Mullett (Romford). Assistant Referees: Charlie Bruce (Hutton) and Joe Burgess (Benfleet). Fourth Official: Glyn Curtis (Chelmsford).

Pelly Under 18s Cup (Wednesday 29th April, 7:45pm, Billericay Town FC)
Referee: Steve Marr (Westcliff-on-Sea). Assistant Referees: James Beal (Tollesbury) and Ben Figg (Chelmsford). Fourth Official: Brett Grant (Canvey Island).

Sunday Premier Cup (Sunday 3rd May, 10:30am, Maldon & Tiptree FC)
Referee: Robert Claussen (South Fambridge). Assistant Referees: Mark Pond (Romford) and Aaron Farmer (Colchester). Fourth Official: Adam Humphries (Hornchurch).