TO help overcome the shortage of football referees in the county three courses have been arranged for anyone wanting to take up the whistle.

These will be held at the Worcestershire Football Associa-tion Headquarters, De Salis Drive, Hampton Lovatt Industrial Estate, Droitwich, WR9 0QE.

The first Course commences on Friday, August 22, from 7pm until 9pm and continues at the same times on following Fridays for a period of eight weeks.

An alternative is an intensive weekend course, on Saturday, September 6, starting at 9am until 4.30pm. On Sunday, the course will resume at 9am and finish at 12.30pm. The following Friday, September 12, there will be a multi choice examination, successful candidates can then commence refereeing as Level 9 referees.

Sandwiched in between will be a course for female candidates only and commence on Wednesday, September 3, at 7.30pm.

The first three weeks are on basic law, with an exam on the fourth week based on the multi-choice principle. Subject to numbers, the course will continue for a further four Wednesdays.

For more information contact the WFA (office hours) 01905 827137 or Bill Allsopp (01299) 826654 (evenings).