The Devon and Exeter Football League has issued an appeal to all its registered players to try to solve the current shortage of referees.

There had been officials missing at some matches this season and, before the clocks changed, some kick-off times were staggered so that referees could run two matches in an area during the same afternoon.

Now Ray Lloyd, the league’s referees training officer, has asked club secretaries to contact all the players registered by them to ascertain if any of them might be interested in becoming a qualified match official.

“This would not need to interfere with your current club commitments but would prepare you for a time when you might stop playing or even referee a few matches when you have no game,” said Mr.Lloyd in a memo to clubs.

He went on, “The League is urgently seeking new faces. Most referees who were former players, and some still are, will tell you, that despite the hassles they sometimes get, it is a brilliant way to give back something to the game they enjoy.”

Anyone who is interested is asked to contact Mr. Lloyd on his e-mail address which is rayandalilloyd@blueyonder.co.uk.

“If I get a good response, I can arrange to send out more details and/or maybe arrange a get-together to explain more,” added Mr. Lloyd.