TWO Year 11 pupils at Bedale High School are on the road to sporting success - as football referees.
The 16-year-olds have passed the FA Class 3 referees exam and are now officiating at school matches. Head of PE Martyn Coombs - himself a Class 1 referee - said: "Every year I try to enrol students on the referee course who I think might turn out to be good referees in time. Refereeing today is a young man's world and the leagues are on the lookout for rising young talent."
Mr Coombs is still active in the Northern League, where one of the officials, 24-year-old Mark Clattenburg from Chester-le-Street, has just been promoted to the national list officiating in the Nationwide League.
"If youngsters have talent there is no reason why they cannot rise swiftly to the top of the profession," said Mr Coombs.
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules hereComments are closed on this article