In the Middle (2022) on Netflix

Plot summary

Filmed at grassroots football venues across the UK, the documentary follows the match officials who take charge of games at that level. Those who appear form a varied group: referees who are experienced and referees who are new to it, young and old, male, female and non-binary. Their perspective comes from the centre of the playing field. They describe the rigours of running a match and the demands the role places on them. They speak about their passion for the game and about their lives outside football, and they explain what draws them to refereeing, a job that often goes unthanked.