Lois Jefferies - Swapping Goals for the Whistle

For anyone that has played FAWNL football in or around the Midlands, Lois Jefferies will doubtless be a name that they are familiar with. Before hanging up her boots ahead of the 24/25 campaign, Jefferies spent her Sundays terrorising defences and racking up an impressive goal tally which made her one of the most feared strikers around.

Whilst her playing days are now behind her, she has not left the game entirely and instead has dedicated her time to refereeing, just another step in an incredible football journey which started simply in her back garden.

“It All Started in the Garden…”

Like so many young players, Jefferies’ first taste of football came in her garden kicking a ball around with her dad aged just 5 years old. Coming from a football-mad family, she recalls how her parents were “really happy” when she began to take a proper interest in football.

Progressing from casual kickarounds in the garden, Lois, at the age of nine, signed for Leafield Athletic Girls. From here, she moved to Coundon Court Girls in Coventry and she credits this club with helping her develop and bridge the gap between youth and adult football.

From here, her senior career flourished; Jefferies had stints with numerous National League clubs such as Solihull Moors Women, Stourbridge Women and Boldmere St Michaels Women.

Photography by Focus Dunn Sports

A Sparkling Senior Career

Her incredible 8 year stint across both Tier 3 and 4 saw Jefferies cement herself as one of the most feared strikers in the FAWNL.

Her stats alone speak volumes:

• 2017/18 - 17 goals in 20 appearances across Coventry United Women and Solihull Moors Women

• 2018/19 - 14 goals in 31 appearances for Coventry United Women

• 2019/20 - 5 goals in just 4 appearances for Wolverhampton Wanderers Women

• 2020/21 - 11 goals in 9 appearances for Solihull Moors

• 2021/22 - 13 goals in 21 games across Solihull Moors and Boldmere St Michaels

• 2022/23 - 23 goals in 22 appearances, including a blistering 14 in just 10 games for Stourbridge

• 2023/24 - 12 goals in 19 appearances for Sutton Coldfield Town Women, with 3 Opposition Player of the Match awards

Putting her incredible goal tallies aside, Jefferies was also a huge presence in the dressing room. A player who could be called upon in big moments, she was instrumental in steering both Boldmere and Stourbridge to Tier 4 titles in consecutive seasons.

Amongst these incredible moments, one huge game stands out as a clear highlight for Jefferies.

“Playing at Molineux in the Birmingham County Cup vs Wolves. We lost the game, but to play in front of 2000 people under the lights was brilliant.”

From Star Striker to Referee

Following a stellar senior career, Jefferies’ decision to hang up her playing boots was one that may have come as a shock for many in the game. Speaking candidly however, she admits that this decision was partly motivated by her frustration at having played at her highest level for eight years without seeing much personal improvement.

Despite admitting that this transition was a hard one to accept since “playing football was all I knew”, Jefferies' step away from playing did not see her leave the game entirely. Instead she began to devote more of her time to refereeing.

Finding the balance between both playing and refereeing is something that Jefferies had been juggling for some time with the striker admitting that she would often officiate on a Saturday before playing on a Sunday. Whilst some players might have found this commitment to be physically demanding, her love for both playing and officiating meant that it never seemed like a chore.

The Making of a Referee

Initially however, Jeffries was not so enthused by the idea of becoming a referee and her journey down this path happened somewhat accidentally, partly due to her playing reputation.

Jefferies recounts how she “worked at Birmingham County FA when (she was) 18–20. I used to get booked a lot, and seeing your own cautions come through the system was embarrassing! They booked me onto a referee course - probably to help me - and I ended up loving it.”

From here, Jefferies progressed through the ranks and arguably her most successful season as a referee came the year after her retirement in the 24/25 campaign. This season saw her achieve both her Level 4 and 3W referee qualifications - qualifications which demand rigorous fitness testing and consistently maintaining high-level refereeing standards.

Speaking about the pressure, Jefferies explains that “getting both in one season was physically and mentally really tough, but achieving it made it all worth it.”

Adding New Dimensions to her Game

The question on many people’s lips will be whether Jefferies’ time as a referee changed her outlook as a player who was known for her spirited performances. The answer is… not really.

Despite admitting that being both a referee and a player offered her new insight into the game, she admits how she still received too many cautions and continued to question and challenge officials too much.

In an era where abuse towards referees is a hot topic, Jefferies believes however that there are many positive signs for the future. For example, despite admitting that referees who make mistakes may be vulnerable to criticism from managers and players alike, she highlights ways in which female referees especially are being better supported even with small gestures like separate changing rooms.

A Female Refereeing Role Model

Lois’ story comes at a time when the number of female referees is on the rise. Following several FA initiatives aiming at increasing the number of female referees in the UK, as of April 2025, there are 3,405 female referees in England - a 9.5% increase from the previous year.

She herself agrees that the FA initiatives have been hugely helpful in not only recruiting but also supporting and developing female referees. For Jefferies, one of the most encouraging signs is that it is no longer a shock to see a female referee officiating - a testament to how much the female game is growing.

Future ambitions

Whilst admitting that she is not one for much forward planning, Lois stated simply that as long as she continues enjoying refereeing, that is the most important thing.

However, if her refereeing career continues to progress at the same rate that her playing career did, Lois Jefferies will undoubtedly be a refereeing name to watch out for in the future!

Her footballing journey, which has humble origins in her back garden, has seen her threaten defences, claim silverware, and play in front of huge crowds. As she takes this next step on her footballing journey we cannot wait to see where this next step will take her.