Street-based Colin Clark has been officiating regularly around the Bristol area in recent seasons, after a near-30-year stint as a referee in Somerset.

His playing career as an old-style right winger started at Meare, before moving to the Yeovil and District League with St Crispins, where he later became manager of the reserves and their linesman.

As a result of his flag-waving duties, he was persuaded to take up the whistle and was instructed at home by Somerset FA referees' secretary Alec Lees, who also assessed his progress as a 'man in the middle'.

After passing the exam, he joined the Yeovil League and the local referees' association, then the Mid-Somerset RA, of which he is now a life member. He also officiated in other leagues within the county.

Clark gained further experience as an assistant on the line in the Western League and the Somerset County League, where he was later promoted to the middle.

He has since run the line in a Somerset Senior Cup final, as well as controlling finals at various levels in the Yeovil League, and recalls being the fourth official for a Football League match between Bristol City and Watford at Ashton Gate.

"The Watford manager Steve Perryman came into the dressing room to wish us luck and Graham Souness was in the stands watching goalkeeper David James before he signed him for Liverpool," said Colin.

He has little experience of the FA's Respect programme, as it has not been fully introduced in the Somerset leagues, but feels that some referees are not strong enough and that handshakes should be held after and not before the game.

"Respect should start when you get to the ground, and I like a bit of humour in the game," he added.

Clark has also been involved with women's football.

He is never available for any refereeing appointments during the carnival season, over the first two weeks of November, because he is an active member of the Wick Carnival Club, in Glastonbury, and has also been a judge at the event, so has to turn his back on football for a fortnight each season.

Although nearing 60, he is proud of his fitness, but hardly looks forward to twice-weekly training sessions after work as a forklift instructor.