Premier League Assistant Referee Craig Taylor Confirmed as Guest Speaker at Our Annual Dinner

AFA & LONSAR are delighted to announce that Premier League Assistant Referee Craig Taylor will be joining us as the guest speaker at our 2026 Annual Dinner on Friday 3rd July at the DoubleTree by Hilton London Angel Kings Cross.

Since making his EFL debut in 2015, Craig has established himself as one of the country's leading Assistant Referees. His career has included appointments to the FA Vase Final, EFL Trophy Final, FA Youth Cup Final, League One Play-Off Final, FA Trophy Final, FA Community Shield, Emirates FA Cup Final and Sky Bet Championship Play-Off Final. Following his Premier League debut in 2024, Craig has gone on to become a Select Group 1 Assistant Referee and has also represented English officiating on the European stage, including appointments in UEFA competitions.

During the evening, Craig will share stories from his refereeing career, discuss his progression through the game, provide an insight into officiating at the highest level, and reflect on some of the challenges and opportunities that come with operating in elite football.

The Annual Dinner is one of the highlights of the calendar, bringing together referees from across London to celebrate achievements, recognise success and enjoy an evening of networking and camaraderie. We are therefore delighted to welcome someone with Craig's experience and expertise to what promises to be a memorable evening.

Career Highlights

• 2015 – EFL debut as Assistant Referee, Mansfield Town v Crawley Town

• 2018 – Assistant Referee, FA Vase Final

• 2020 – Assistant Referee, EFL Trophy Final

• 2022 – Assistant Referee, FA Youth Cup Final

• 2022 – Assistant Referee, League One Play-Off Final

• 2024 – Premier League debut, Tottenham Hotspur v Brentford

• 2024 – Assistant Referee, FA Trophy Final

• 2024 – Reserve Assistant Referee, FA Community Shield

• 2025 – Assistant Referee, UEFA Under-17 European Championship Qualifiers

• 2025 – Reserve Assistant Referee, Emirates FA Cup Final

• 2025 – Assistant Referee, UEFA Champions League Second Qualifying Round, Ferencváros v FK Noah

• 2026 – Reserve Assistant Referee, Sky Bet Championship Play-Off Final

Assistant Referee, UEFA Champions League Second Qualifying Round, Ferencváros v FK Noah

Event Details

Date: Friday 3rd July 2026

Venue: DoubleTree by Hilton London Angel Kings Cross

Address: 60 Pentonville Road, London, N1 9LA

Arrival: Doors open from 6:45pm for networking and drinks before the formal proceedings begin.

Tickets are still avaliable https://www.afalonsar.co.uk/event-details/afa-and-lonsar-annual-dinner-1

We are extremely grateful to Craig for giving up his time to join us and share his experiences with our members and guests. We look forward to welcoming him and everyone attending for what promises to be a fantastic evening celebrating refereeing across London.