West Ham United v LOSC Lille
BOYLE Sports Cup, London Stadium, Saturday 9 August 2025, 3pm BST
Referee: Darren England
Assistant Referees: Matthew Wilkes and Craig Taylor
Fourth Official: Lewis Smith
Darren England has been confirmed as the referee for Saturday’s BOYLE Sports Cup match against LOSC Lille at London Stadium.
The Leeds Beckett University graduate’s refereeing journey began in 2012 when he joined Professional Game Match Officials Limited (PGMOL) as a FIFA and Premier League assistant referee.
Three years later, the 39-year-old was named on the National League list of officials ahead of the 2015/16 season, meaning he officiated in the Football League, before he was promoted to the PGMOL’s Select Group 2 prior to 2017/18.
Then, in August 2020, England - who was fourth official in May’s FA Cup final between Crystal Palace and Manchester City - became part of the PGMOL’s Select Group 1, ahead of being added to the FIFA list of International Match Officials in 2022.
England’s first time refereeing West Ham United saw the Hammers, then managed by David Moyes, run out 4-1 winners away at Watford in December 2021. The Irons found themselves 2-1 ahead thanks to quick-fire goals from Tomáš Souček and Saïd Benrahma, before England - after a VAR check - gave the visitors a penalty in the 59th minute for a foul on Jarrod Bowen, which Mark Noble duly dispatched. Nikola Vlašić rounded off the scoring in second-half stoppage time that afternoon at Vicarage Road.
More recently, England oversaw last season’s 3-2 defeat at Brighton & Hove Albion in April and a narrow 1-0 loss against Brentford at London Stadium in February.
Matthew Wilkes and Craig Taylor will serve as the assistant referees in east London.
In May, Wilkes assisted Matt Donohue on VAR, as Graham Potter’s side signed off 2024/25 with a comfortable 3-1 success at Portman Road.
Meanwhile, Taylor was a match official for both of our victories over Manchester United last season. He was an assistant referee at London Stadium when Bowen’s late penalty secured a dramatic 2-1 win in October, and was VAR assistant to Andy Madley in the 2-0 success at Old Trafford in May.
Lewis Smith will be the fourth official on Saturday.
Smith’s refereeing debut in the Premier League came at Craven Cottage as Fulham hosted Aston Villa in February 2024 - making him the youngest person to referee a top-flight game that season.
There will be no VAR in place for this fixture.
