Former Premier League official becomes first inductee into Army FA Hall of Fame

Warrant Officer Andy Halliday has become the first inductee into the British Army FA Hall of Fame. 

Halliday recently retired from the Army after 40 years of service. He began his Army career in 1985 joining the Royal Signals and spent nearly a decade in Germany before transferring to the Royal Army Physical Training Corps.

That is where his football refereeing started and in total he officiated 338 Premier League matches as well as working with UEFA.

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A domestic highlight was being named as the Assistant Referee at the 2016 FA Cup final as Manchester United beat Crystal Palace 2-1. Three years later, he again ran the line at Wembley for the Carabao Cup final where Manchester City beat Chelsea 4-3 on penalties.

In 2018, he was made an MBE for services to football refereeing and was also a former Army and UKAF Sports Official of the Year award recipient. Last year, he was appointed as the Walking Football Scotland (WFS) Referee Liaison officer. 

WO2 Halliday told BFBS that at one stage he was offered a full-time post as an elite referee, but turned it down because he chose to remain in the Army instead.

His final day of service was at the 2026 FA Cup final at Wembley between Manchester City and Chelsea. His last job was to present the Cup to Prince William. WO2 Halliday said: "What better way to round off my Army career."

Among many awards presented at the Army FA annual dinner at the RMA Academy Sandhurst, Corporal Liam Silver was named senior men's player of the year, Lance Corporal Courtney Jones, who is leaving the Army, was senior women's player of the year, Lance Corporal Alfie Rogers was the under-23s player of the year and the long service award went to Warrant Officer Class 1 Keith Emmerson.

Guest speakers were two well-known faces from the English professional game in Garry Monk and James Beattie.