When Gordon Johnson of Aughton Lodge No 7996, in the Ormskirk and Bootle Group, packed his bags for Addis Ababa, he was carrying something rather more valuable than his luggage, more than a quarter of a century of experience as a Referee Developer with the Football Association, and a determination to put it to good use on the other side of the world.
Gordon travelled to Ethiopia via Cairo alongside Mark Hayes, global lead of SMS Prosoccer, and former Premier League footballer Emmerson Boyce. The trio were representing the charity Football for Humanity, whose work in Ethiopia began in 2025 through a link established with the British Embassy in Addis Ababa, and their programme was delivered in partnership with the Embassy and the Ethiopian Football Federation.
The invitation came about almost by accident. During an earlier visit in November 2025, when Mark and Emmerson delivered the ‘She Wins’ project; empowering female coaches and players while tackling gender-based violence, the Ethiopian Football Federation asked whether help might be available with referee training and development across the country. On their return to the UK, Mark knew exactly who to call. Gordon has worked as a Referee Developer for the FA since 1998, and he didn’t hesitate.
A foundation for Ethiopian refereeing was developed after a series of online meetings. Gordon designed the outline of a ‘Referee Excellence Foundation Scheme’, fittingly abbreviated to REFS for the Ethiopian Football Federation. He then flew out in June 2026 to develop and launch the scheme in person, with the aim of building a network across Ethiopia to educate referees and support the Federation’s referee’s department for years to come.
While Gordon worked with the match officials, Emmerson continued phase two of the ‘She Wins’ project. It proved to be a remarkable week. The visit coincided with a Diplomatic Cup football tournament staged in Addis Ababa, organised by the British Embassy and sponsored by the Commercial Bank of Ethiopia, with Ethiopian broadcaster Hagerie TV covering the action. And with impeccable timing, the trip also coincided with the opening of the 2026 FIFA World Cup in Canada, Mexico and the USA.
The team took with them a full-size replica of the FIFA World Cup Trophy, which toured Addis Ababa throughout the week, drawing crowds and shining a light on the tournament, the Diplomatic Cup and the charity’s work in Ethiopia. Both the REFS and ‘She Wins’ projects developed further during the visit, and provisional plans are already in place for a return to Addis Ababa to continue the work.
Skills shared and lives changed. For Gordon, the week was a chance to do what Freemasons across West Lancashire do every day, on a rather grander stage: to take a skill honed over a lifetime and share it freely for the benefit of others. Ethiopia’s referees now have the foundations of a national development scheme; Gordon has memories and friendships that will last a lifetime.
It is a fine example of the values at the heart of Freemasonry, integrity, friendship, respect and service, reaching well beyond West Lancashire, and proof that the good work of Freemasons knows no borders.
