My Passion with Michael Trevethan: Getting a buzz at being at the heart of the beautiful game

From a young age I’ve been immersed in football, either on the pitch playing in five-a-side matches or off the pitch supporting Plymouth Argyle – a team my family has followed for years.

So when I decided to take my passion for the game a step further, becoming a referee seemed like a natural choice. I now referee in my spare time, every chance I get, for the West Yorkshire Association Football League, Wakefield FA League and Wakefield Sunday League.

I made the leap into refereeing by contacting my local football association and completing a course which involved practical assessment and a written exam.

I started out at the lowest level but as I’ve become more experienced I’ve been promoted, which gives me the opportunity to referee in higher leagues. It certainly makes for busy weekends, sometimes overseeing three games a week but I’m delighted to have progressed so quickly. Refereeing is obviously a very physical activity and so I work hard to keep fit. As well as playing five-a-side football when I get the chance (which isn’t that often these days), I also play squash, go to the gym and play cricket in the summer.

Alongside the physical requirements, a good referee also needs strong communication skills, confidence and the ability to be vocal. It’s essential to have an excellent understanding of the game and of course, the ability to keep up with play.

The thing I enjoy most is the buzz of being out on the pitch, at the heart of the match. It’s also really fulfilling to be able to give something back to the sport I love. When the final whistle blows, I know that the players appreciate my involvement because without a referee they couldn’t have played the game.

It’s great to see initiatives such as the Respect campaign working hard to stamp out the verbal abuse that officials often face from players and spectators alike. Hopefully, the outcome will be as impressive as the campaign to combat racism in sport.

The other change I’d like to see within football is the introduction of video technology. I know not everyone is in favour but I really believe it helps both officials and players. And after all, every other sport has it, so why not football?

My personal goal is to continue to gain promotion each season and be the best referee at my level. My ultimate dream would be to referee the FA Cup final at Wembley.

Refereeing is a big commitment that takes up a lot of my weekend but I wouldn’t have it any other way. No two games are ever the same and unexpected things can happen. For example, in one of my first matches a player suffered a heart attack on the pitch. Thankfully he recovered but it taught me that when it comes to football you just never know what might happen next. It’s a thrill and I love it.