“This fixture is special for me,” Bobby says. “Emley was the first non-league club I really followed. I’ve still got vivid memories of them playing West Ham in the FA Cup. I was just a kid, but that stuck with me. And Huddersfield Town? That’s my club. So to be in the middle for a game between the two, it’s full circle.”

Ironically, refereeing was never in his plans: “I never wanted to be a ref. I didn’t even like referees!” he says, laughing. “I was a striker, I played for Ossett Town Juniors and held the goal record there scoring 91 goals in one season. I was a proper gob on the pitch. I thought I knew everything.”

After injury cut short his playing hopes, Bobby was challenged by an older official to try refereeing.

Bobby commented: “An old lad who used to ref our games said, ‘You’re always moaning, why don’t you try refereeing?’ And I thought, why not? I took my brother Andy with me just for company. Neither of us had any plans to actually become referees.”

But they both passed their exams to earn their officiating qualifications, and within weeks of turning 16-years-old, Bobby was officiating adult Sunday League football in Wakefield.

“That was a baptism of fire,” he says. “But most of the teams looked after us. I think they respected the fact we were young and having a go. Those Sunday mornings taught me more than any course ever could.”

Bobby’s brother, Andy Madley, also caught the refereeing bug, and the pair have climbed the ranks together. Today, Andy is a Premier League and FIFA-listed referee, with the 2023 FA Cup Final on his CV.

“We’ve done the journey side by side,” Bobby says. “There’s never been competition, we’ve always supported each other. When Andy did the FA Cup Final, I was buzzing for him. I sat there thinking, ‘I wish that was me,’ but more than anything, I was proud.”

“We’re not just brothers, we’re best mates. After every game, he’s the first person I ring. Win, lose or draw, whether it’s a League One game or a Premier League one, we talk it through. It’s that sounding board we’ve always had.”

Living close to each other in West Yorkshire, they even train together: “It makes a massive difference,” Bobby explains. “Refereeing can be lonely, but training with Andy and going for runs, doing drills and even just having a moan, it keeps you sharp.”

Bobby’s rise was rapid. After joining the National List in 2010, he made his Premier League debut in 2013, a fiery clash between Southampton and West Brom in which he issued three red cards: “Not a quiet introduction!” he says. “But I felt ready. I’d had those years refereeing in Wakefield, dealing with tough players, passionate fans. It gave me that grounding.”

In 2016, he was added to the FIFA international list. In 2018 Bobby moved to Norway for two years but returned to the English game in 2020 and in 2022, he returned to Premier League action with Brentford vs Wolves, where he showed a red card to Diego Costa after a VAR review.

He said: “I’ve had two Premier League games since I came back. It’s not in my hands whether I go back up regularly, all I can do is perform well in the Championship. That’s my focus.”

Despite the pressure that comes with top-flight refereeing, Madley has never lost his connection to the game as a supporter.

He said: “Most people think referees are neutral robots. The truth is, we’re all fans. I still check Emley’s and Town’s scores, always have.

“Me and Andy go to Huddersfield games and we’re shouting at the ref like everyone else. Then we sit down, look at each other, and go, ‘Yeah, that was the right call.’ You can’t switch it off!”

The upcoming Emley vs Huddersfield pre-season fixture is now something of a tradition and Madley relishes the chance to be part of it.
“It’s now my first game back after the break. It’s proper local football, no VAR, no pressure, just the love of the game. That’s how I like to start a season.

“Emley’s ground is lovely, it has a slope, it’s usually windy, and there’s a great atmosphere. I love it. It reminds me why I got into this.”
Now 39, Bobby says he still has plenty of energy left and a few ambitions too.

“I’d love to ref another Premier League match, maybe a final one day. But right now, I’m loving where I’m at. I’ve got a job I love, I’m back doing it full-time, and I still get to watch Emley and Town when I can. What more can you ask for?
“Not many people get to turn their passion into a job. I get to do that every week. I ref in front of tens of thousands of people, then go to the shop and no one knows who I am. It’s the perfect balance.”