Madley was previously one of the referee development officers for the West Riding County Football Association[1] before taking up a full-time role with the Professional Game Match Officials Limited (PGMOL).

In April 2013, Madley took charge of his first Premier League fixture, between Southampton and West Bromwich Albion at St Mary's Stadium.

[3] West Brom manager Steve Clarke, whose team won 3–0, said after the game that he thought all three red cards were correct.

In the 2017–18 season, Madley was criticised for several decisions by former Premier League referees including Keith Hackett, Graham Poll and Mark Halsey.

[7][8] He later revealed, in December 2019, that he recorded a video 'mocking' a disabled person and sent it to a friend who subsequently forwarded it to his employers, for which he was dismissed and left the ranks of PGMOL referees.