HUDDERSFIELD is in the top 10 worst-hit areas of the country for having a shortage of qualified referees, an FA spokesman has confirmed.

But as the Examiner’s Save The Ref campaign continues – a project started last August – the amount of people taking up the whistle keeps improving.

The number of trained referees involved in games last season reached an all-time low with fewer than 20 officiating matches played on a Saturday and six on Sundays. This was with more than 60 fixtures played on a typical weekend.

Last year, however, just three months into our campaign, John Ennis, referees’ appointments secretary for the Huddersfield FA, said all Sunday fixtures were being controlled by a trained official.

At that time there was no change for Saturdays with three in five games taking place with an unqualified referee.

Now, Ennis says since November there have been more games on a Saturday played with a fully-trained person than those left unstaffed.

And, out of the 243 games played on Sundays this season, only 34 fixtures have taken place with an unqualified referee, while an impressive 209 have been played with a trained official.

Despite an improvement in numbers, Ian Mellor, president of the Huddersfield Referees Association (HRA), said more people were still needed.

"Anybody who wishes to become a referee would be welcomed with open arms into the HRA.

"We will offer mentorship and guidance in their early stages," he added.

The FA launched a £200m National Game strategy last year aimed at improving grassroots football.

The initiative included the launch of the Respect campaign, specifically targeted at addressing poor behaviour from players to referees.

Mellor, though, does not feel the strategy and Respect campaign has been implemented well enough at grassroots level.

"This programme, for the improvement of attitudes between players, referees, club officials and spectators, is very much a ‘top-down’ approach," said Mellor.

"But, locally, there is no initiative whatsoever to latch onto marketed at helping referees.

"It would help to have a ‘bottom, grassroots-level-up’ attitude as well so that real progress can be seen and then we could perhaps look forward to having more trained officials staffing games."

A referee training course is taking place at Newsome Sports College this week.

The full, basic referee course starts tomorrow (February 10), with a safeguarding children workshop (6.30pm to 9.30). The theory and practical training sessions start on Thursday (February 12).

After that, the course continues every Tuesday and Thursday from 7.30pm to 9.30 until Tuesday, March 17. There is then an examination on Thursday, March 19.

The course fees are £80 for people aged 16 years and over and £60 for those aged 14 and 15.

On completing the course, people can receive part of their application fee back if they complete the exam and referee six games.

For more information, contact Steven Rhodes, referee development officer at the West Riding County Football Association, on 0113 2821222.