FORMER Premier League referee Clive Wilkes hopes a new, fully-funded course will help breathe some new life into the pool of officials working in the North Gloucestershire League.

Clubs from the league are being invited to send representatives to become newly-qualified referees free of charge for a one-day course on Sunday February 25 at Mitcheldean Community Centre.

Wilkes, who is the league’s president, said he was delighted with the influx of new referees following the last free course in 2016 but maintains that more new men in black are needed to keep the Forest’s grassroots league alive.

“The North Gloucestershire League has benefitted from the funding into referee’s courses, but we can’t rest on our laurels and we have to keep recruiting referees,” he said.

“If we got one representative from each club we would be really happy with that.

“We have an ageing referees list and a few of them are on the brink of retirement.

“The best referees are the ones who have played at this level and know how to manage the game and let it flow but equally it’s not a pre-requisite.

“I’d dearly love for someone from the Forest to become a full-time professional referee because it’s a career for life and you can make a good amount of money now.”

“I will personally help any referee who has the desire and the ability to progress through the refereeing system.

“I am the only referee ever to come from the north of the county and reach the top level.

“I would love to see this emulated by someone else in our area & in my life time hopefully starting on the NGL as I did.

“It will be a long road for someone however I will support and guide anyone who shows they have the commitment, desire, attitude, strength of mind and fitness to reach the higher levels of the game.”

The course carries a £20 deposit to guarantee a place which will be returned at the end of the day.

For more information, email [email protected].