DISTRICT FA president Frank Beaumont backed up Martin Atkinson’s plea for people to come forward and take up the whistle.
If they don’t, clubs could be forced into providing an official.
As referee numbers continue to dwindle and are now at their lowest ever, Mr Beaumont, who is also president of the District League, said:
“I found it an enthralling talk, covering every aspect of refereeing from healthy eating, fitness, training, communication on the field and decision-making.
“And it all started on the playing fields of Kirklees, from where he has travelled the world.
“He was, however, speaking to the converted, but I couldn’t help feeling that if he had been giving this to say a class of sixth-form students or a group of people interested in taking up the whistle, then his words would have inspired them to ‘have a go’.
“But we, as a local FA who appoint referees to matches in this area, have to try to get people interested, but it is proving a difficult job.”
He added: “We have explored almost every avenue to increase the numbers – all to no avail – so we are now left to give serious consideration to ‘no ref, no club.’
“It was suggested at a recent meeting of the District FA that we look at the possibility of making it a criteria that all clubs MUST provide a referee to go into the pool of officials, or their club would not be accepted into the various leagues.
“Some leagues in the country have already gone down this route, and it was suggested that the leagues in this area should debate this issue at their meetings throughout the course of the season and then report back to the FA with the feelings of their members.”
Mr Beaumont was full of praise for the ‘unofficial’ club referees.
“If it was not for the good will of club volunteers standing in to officiate at Saturday and Sunday matches which hadn’t an appointed official, then many matches would not take place,” he said.
Anyone wanting to take up refereeing should contact chief referees’ instructor Neil Simpson on 01422 374916.
