How to log a match
The match form is the core of penalty.app. Every fee you earn, every mile you travel, and every chase message you send starts here. Here's how to fill it in quickly and accurately.
What you need before you start
You can log a match with just five pieces of information — everything else is optional but adds value over time.
Match date
The date the game was played
Competition / league name
e.g. Sunday League Div 2, County Cup
Home team
Used in chase messages and reports
Away team
Used in chase messages and reports
Your role
REF, AR, or 4TH
Match fee
What you should be paid for this game
Venue / address
Enables one-tap navigation and mileage calc
Who pays
Home club, away club, league, or county FA
Payment method
Cash, BACS, or cheque
Mileage
Auto-calculated if you enter the venue address
✓ Required · ○ Optional
Step by step
Open New Match
From the dashboard, tap + New Match or navigate to Matches → New. The form opens immediately — no loading screens.
Fill in the match details
Enter the date, competition name, home team, away team, your role, and your fee. If you're at the venue, paste or type the address — mileage is calculated automatically from your home address set in Settings.
Date
Role
Competition
Home Team
Away Team
Match Fee
Mileage
Who Pays
Payment Method
Set the payment status
If you were paid on the day (common with cash), mark the match as Paid before saving. If you're expecting a BACS transfer or the treasurer collects at the end of the month, leave it as Unpaid — it will appear on your dashboard until you mark it paid.
Save — you're done
Tap Save Match. The match appears instantly in your match list and your dashboard totals update automatically — total earned, total outstanding, total mileage, and average fee per match.
Tips for getting the most out of it
Log immediately after the match
Do it in the car park before you drive home. Details are fresh, you know whether you were paid, and you have the venue address to hand.
Always enter the venue address
Mileage is calculated automatically from your home. This saves you tracking mileage manually and makes your expense summary accurate.
Set 'who pays' correctly
Different clubs and competitions pay via different mechanisms. Knowing this in advance means your chase message is addressed to the right person.
Use the Notes field for red cards
Jot the player name and offence in the notes field. The Reports section can generate the FA misconduct report text from those details later.
Frequently asked questions
What information do I need to log a match?
At minimum: date, competition name, home and away teams, your role (REF, AR, or 4TH), and your match fee. Mileage, who pays, and payment method are optional but recommended — they unlock the payment tracking and reporting features.
Can I edit a match after saving it?
Yes. Open any match from your match list and tap Edit. All fields can be updated at any time, including the payment status.
What's the difference between REF, AR, and 4TH?
These are your roles on the day: REF (referee), AR (assistant referee / linesman), or 4TH (fourth official). Your role affects your promotion tracking — the Promotion module records REF games and AR games separately, as FA promotion criteria treat them differently.
Can I log a match on my phone straight after the final whistle?
Yes — that's exactly how it's designed. penalty.app is a mobile-first web app and there is also a native iOS app on the App Store. The form is optimised for quick entry so you can log a match in the car park before driving home.