It’s never been the most fashionable past-time, that of a football referee.  High profile at the top level, yes, you’ll probably even get on TV and your picture in the paper.  But the vision of awarding a penalty in a cup final has never quite graced the dreams of young men and women in the same way as the more traditional act of scoring one.

But all that could about to change; If the majority of Scotland’s youth respond in the same way as one bunch of pupils at Calderglen High School in East Kilbride, then it’s boom time for refereeing in Scotland.

A new initiative designed to recruit the whistle blowers of the future has been a stunning success in the South Lanarkshire School, with 40 fifth and sixth year pupils, boys and girls, signing up.

Charlie Smith, a top-flight linesman who has assisted referees at SPL and World Cup qualifier level, is leading the programme at Calderglen.  Though it was originally set up by fellow ref and teacher at the school, William Barlow, Charlie is playing the role of ‘teacher’ to the several dozen budding officials.

“William saw the opportunity to bring it into the school, and his headmaster was very keen.  There has been massive enthusiasm, from here and other schools, so now the big target for us now is to see how many pass the exam, and how many people continue to referee.”

So how does it work?

“We divide the pupils into two classes, where we deliver the laws of the game over a period of 12 weeks,” explains Smith, a manufacturer by day.  “At the end of the 12 weeks they will sit and exam which allows them to become referees.”

He continues, “We will come in on a Tuesday to teach them the laws of the game, then on Thursdays we give them training plans to supplement their PE classes.  They started by walking the park, doing the measurements, inspecting the ball and footwear.  Then every week since we have been looking at other laws – offsides and fouls and things like that.”

So the big question is, why do so many youngsters want to step into match officiating?

“Well, the opportunities are incredible if you want to take it seriously,” Smith enthuses.  “If you start at 16 or 17, you can have a 30 year career in refereeing.”  [Indeed, a career that can include travelling all over the world and some very desirable match fees!]

“Also, lot of these kids will be going to university and will need part-time jobs.  And it is easier to go out and referee an under-13s match on a Saturday morning to earn £35 than it is to spend all day stacking shelves in ASDA.  Plus they would also be getting fitter, and progressing in their career. 

The importance of getting into officiating at an early age – 16 or so, as Smith suggests – is clear for all to see.  For the most obvious evidence, one need look no further than Scottish referee William Collum.  Though the Glasgow-born ref is only 30 years old, he has already taken the reins at SPL, UEFA Cup and World Cup qualifying level. 

What’s more, in early 2009, Collum, renowned as one of the fittest referees in Europe, played official to the likes of David Beckham, Ronaldinho and Kaka when Milan took on Rangers at Ibrox.  How’s that for motivation?

To add further impetus, there is sound reason to believe that you have a good chance of carving out a decent career as a referee in Scotland.  The sport is crying out for officials of both sexes.

“The SFA are very much in favour of bringing in younger referees.  The game is progressing so fast that the older ones will eventually have to let younger guys through.

“Of this one group, I would say perhaps eight or 10 of the pupils may see a future in refereeing,” says Smith of his young charges.  “Two of the girls are very keen, which is significant when you consider how women’s football is snowballing in popularity around the world.  There could be some fantastic opportunities for them.”

The pupils themselves are equally enthusiastic.  The lesson we witness after speaking to Charlie involves watching video clips of real time match action, without commentary, and turning to the pupils to pass their judgement on what happens.

Sometimes it is obvious – a blatant foul or handball.  But other times it’s not so easy, especially as you only get to see what happens once, without the help of a John Motson or Peter Drury.  A narrow offside – or was it onside?  A trip or a dive?  Not as easy at it looks, and if you try it yourself next time a match is on TV you may well think twice before criticising the official’s decision making.

Many aspects of football and its rules are much more complicated and harder to call than the average armchair aficionado would expect.  And this truth isn’t lost on the pupils, who admit that learning the actual, rather than perceived laws of the game was one of the most fascinating features of the course.

To make it to the next level, pupils must then sit two exams – one written, and one oral.

“The exam is generally based on a game of football.  So at the start, in theory, you would turn up at the ground.  It might have been raining so you would look out for the condition and safety of the pitch.  Then you go into the match.  At the very end of the exam they will have to do either a caution report or an ordering off report for one of the match incidents, and they have to go through all 17 laws of the exam.

“The oral is the second part, when they will watch six videos and decide what decisions they would make at each incident.”

And then, of course, they need to lace up their boots, put on the black kit and get out on the pitch!

“A more senior referee will be assigned to give them encouragement and be their mentors for the game.  They will talk to them about doing paperwork and how to conduct themselves as referees. They will give them pointers at half time and at the end of the game they will get a report.

“For everyone who passes and becomes a member of the GRA (Glasgow Referees Association), we will give them a permanent mentor.  Each official is given a new recruit and takes them under their wing.  It’s very important because refereeing is the loneliest job in the world, and no matter what the level, you will have a bad day.  It’s important to have someone to speak to, and who can relate to your experiences, it helps retain the new recruits.”

For Charlie, refereeing has fulfilled a dream that will go unanswered for millions, maybe billions of youngsters around the world.  He may not score the winning goal in the cup final, but at least he’s been on the pitch.

“I have got a lot more than I ever thought I would out of refereeing.  Like a lot of people, I’d rather be kicking that ball in the middle, but never had the skill or the ability.  I took up refereeing a way of staying actively involved in the game. 

“And from there my career has just improved all the time, to the point that I am now doing SPL games on a regular basis.  As a wee boy you dream of running out at Parkhead, Ibrox, Tynecastle, Pittodrie or wherever.  So when you eventually do run out of that tunnel, it is amazing.  It’s a great buzz.”

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