THE shortage of match officials affecting the Furness Premier League shows no sign of abating ahead of the Premier Tiles Division One and Division Two programmes getting underway this weekend.

As it stands, all 10 matches in the first and second divisions of the league are set to go ahead without an independent registered FA referee, leaving the clubs to find volunteers willing to be the person in the middle.

A push to attract ex-players into a second career as a match official has so far proved fruitless, while last month's referee's course held in Barrow saw the participants from the area either too young to officiate senior football or not able to take appointments.

And FPL appointments officer Bob Davies, who still officiates in the league, is concerned the situation is reaching the point where it is starting to affecting the long-term future of the competition.

"We've struggled for the last two or three seasons, but we've just about got through without any major incidents. We have had a severe shortage of referees for a few years and this season it seems to be worse than ever," said Davies.

"The majority of lads have been doing it for a number of years and they've been quite happy to do it, but now when you ask people like ex-players, whenever I speak to them about taking up refereeing the reaction is 'what, and take the stick you all take?'

"This is what I'm trying to stress to clubs this season: Unless things improve we are in dire straits and I really fear for the future of local football because nobody seems to be coming in to do refereeing."

The behaviour of players towards referees is often seen as putting people off from taking up the whistle, with Davies eager to stress to the clubs they must show greater respect to officials.

There is also the concern that incidents in games which would normally result in yellow or red cards being shown are going unreported to the league and Lancashire FA due to no registered referee being appointed.

"I've even suggested to clubs could they try to get someone from their club to take the referee's course, which would mean they've got a registered referee who knows what they're doing," said Davies.

"The danger is, from a discipline point-of-view, you don't know what is happening on a Saturday in these games and if someone gets hurt, who is to blame?

"You don't know what is going on or whether there is anyone administering discipline during these games or whether people are getting away with murder. It's a real concern and one I don't know where it is going to go."

Anyone wanting to take up refereeing must first undergo a 12-hour course – split into two sessions – put on by the Lancashire FA which costs £135, but includes cards, a whistle, study pack and membership of the Referees Association.

Davies acknowledges the price may put some people of too, but would encourage anyone with an interest in football to take up officiating and has no doubt there is plenty of enjoyment to be had out of it.

"It's the next-best thing to playing, as far as I'm concerned," said Davies. "I played until I was possibly too old to be playing and took over refereeing at that age, just because it kept me involved with local football.

"It kept me involved with the people I'd met and was acquainted with, and I've met a lot of people I would call friends in the area through football. I moved from Newcastle and it was only football which kept me here.

"I would have gone back if I hadn't settled down and got into football, and that's been my hobby which I've thoroughly enjoyed – and I still enjoy it."

Anyone interested in becoming a referee in the FPL should contact Bob Davies on 01229 465370 or 07901 646567.