medley began his career as a referee in wakefield. he soon became a level 3a referee in 2008. as a level 3a referee, he was able to be an assistant referee for the three football league divisions. the next year, he was promoted to the panel list. he could now referee the conference divisions. he was promoted again in 2010 when he became a select group assistant referee. at this point in his career, he started officiating on the premier league. in 2011, hebecame a national list referee. at the start of the 2016–17 season, madley was a select group 2 referee. he mostly refereed in the championship. he was piut in charge of a premier league game for the first time on 31 march 2018. it was a match watford and bournemouth. in june 2019, he was promoted to the select group 1 referees list.