New referees always welcome!
The Spennymoor Sunday League is constantly on the look-out for new referees.
 While the league’s pool for the 2005-06 season appear to be adequately covering a demanding fixture programme, officials are always keen to welcome new faces.
And new ref on the block Brian Burniston is proof that a career as man-in-the-middle can be an enjoyable one.
Brian played Sunday morning football for a number of years before hanging up his boots last summer and qualifying as a referee.
And the 36-year-old took full advantage of the Spennymoor League’s incentive of paying for new refs’ coaching courses.
“I’m really enjoying it,” said Brian, who spent most of his playing days with the North Briton. “The standard of football is pretty good and I’m enjoying the crack.
“I decided to stop playing over the course of last season and thought refereeing was the obvious way of staying involved.
“It’s all very well standing on the sidelines and helping the club out off the field, but that’s no good to me – I want to have a run out and be involved!”
The Spennymoor League also has a fine reputation for looking after referees, and their officials enjoy officiating over games in the league.
“You do get a little bit of stick,” added Brian. “But that’s all part-and-parcel of the game and being a referee so you half expect it!”
Anyone interested in joining the Spennymoor League’s team of referees can contact Secretary Mike Hill on 01388 608062 or 07773 925748.
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