The Toolstation NCEL is delighted to announce that former president Howard Webb MBE has accepted an invitation to become one of the competition's vice presidents.

Howard had been president for ten years from his appointment in 2011 but, due to work and personal commitments, he stepped down from the role in 2021.

He is now set for a return to English football after being General Manager of the Professional Referee Organisation (PRO) in the United States and Canada for six years.

At the end of this year, Howard will become the Chief Refereeing Officer at the body responsible for match officials in English professional football, Professional Game Match Officials Limited (PGMOL).

On hearing the news, the NCEL agreed to approach Howard with the offer to re-establish his ties with the competition that helped him to start his refereeing career.

And, Howard replied: "Many thanks for informing me of the proposal that I join the NCEL in the position of vice president.

"I was thrilled to read of this, and feel honoured to have been considered.

"I would be delighted to accept the proposal."

Howard will become our fourth vice president alongside Karl Blackburn, Peter Lang and Barry Wood.