CHESHIRE Football League's Young Referee of the Year Tom Cassidy appreciates not all bad tackles are malicious, “most are committed because like me as player, they're just too slow.”

Tom, aged 17, from Altrincham and currently studying Maths, Further Maths, Physics and Geography at St Ambrose College Sixth Form, completed last season refereeing the men's game at county level, running the line in the Premiership final.

In the summer he was invited by the Football Association to attend a training programme at Warwick University to prepare tomorrow's best young referring talent for the increasing challenges of officiating the modern game.

He said: “Let's just say I am a better referee than I am a player.

"As a player I am big and confident but a bit slow so can seem to commit some fairly bad tackles.

"That experience does help me to determine the mistimed tackle from the one with intent.

“I don't over use the red card, but sometimes some players will overstep the mark and you have to be firm.

“Of course you're going to get some stick as the man in the middle, but the key skills are to be calm, to talk to players as you would have them talk to you and to have good man-management skills.”

Tom, who got two A*s and nine A grades in his GCSEs, wants to go to Warwick University to study Civil Engineering, but also aims to continue refereeing.

He added: "I will definitely try and go as far possible in the game as a referee and just see where it takes me.”

St Ambrose College principal James Keulemans, a former international rugby player, said: “Respect for the referee should be the first thing any child learns in any sport and we certainly respect Tom's achievements and appreciate success in his chosen field will be just as competitive and challenging as becoming a player.”