Locally, the Aberdeen & District Association of SFA Referees would like as many 'volunteers' as possible to assist in their task of providing sufficient referees for the local minor grads football, particularly in the Aberdeenshire Amateur FA and the Aberdeenshire & District Juvenile FA.

It is anticipated that, each Saturday, up to 18 fixtures in the amateur competitions and a similar number in the juvenile competitions will be cancelled as no local official will be available to act as referee.

With the juvenile games cancelled, up to 250 'stars of tomorrow' lose the opportunity to improve their footballing skills. Who knows what the effect will be in the long term?

The Aberdeen & District Association of SFA Referees is anxious to combat this weekly struggle to find referees.

Seeking support from anyone who feels that they could have something to offer in this connection the association has organised a course on the Laws of the Game, with those completing the course sitting the SFA Introductory Referees Exam.

The courses being held in The Lounge Bar at the Maltman Pub, Holburn Street, Aberdeen and will be held every Monday and Thursday each week over a five-week period. The course fee will be £30.

Interested? Then contact the association secretary, Craig Mackay on 01561 361200 or, initially, visit the association website at www.aberdeenanddistrictreferees.co.uk

Anyone over 16 years of age will be made welcome. Players and officials are eligible to assist in leagues outwith the one in which they participate. Successful candidates will be encouraged to start refereeing at an early date.. Support schemes have been introduced by the association to assist new referees at the start of their career.