A former pupil of Settle High School 26-year-old Lee Metcalfe was informed last week that he had been promoted to officiate on the Football League as an Assistant Referee and to the Nationwide Conference League as a Referee.

Lee took up the whistle by refereeing junior games in the Settle area at the age of 13.

He also continued to play for Settle United AFC and was a member of the Craven Minors squad.

At the age of 16 Lee started officiating at senior level covering the Craven League and Craven Minor League and was given good advice at this time by former Football League referee Bob Turner of Skipton.

On leaving school Lee attended Myerscough College at Preston where he gained a National Diploma in Turf Science and during this time moved to his present home in Preston where he progressed to the West Lancashire League.

He was promoted to the Contributory League covering North West Counties, Unibond and Conference North and acting as an assistant referee in the Pontins League.

Now after spending four years on this circuit, Lee has a wonderful opportunity to fulfil his ambition of officiating at the highest level with his recent appointment and readily accepts there is much more hard work in front of him to progress further.

He paid tribute to his parents Richard and Pat Metcalfe, who are delighted at his progress, for the encouragement given to him by chauffeuring him to matches and providing a listening ear when he wanted to share a problem that may have arisen in a game.

Lee is a member of Morecambe and Lancaster Referee's Society who have in their ranks a former Football League referee David Allison who has guided and encouraged Lee in recent years.

Lee cannot believe how he has progressed in such a short space of time but accepts that working in a professional environment as a grounds man at Blackburn Rovers FC, has helped him understand the game more and also has given him the opportunity to share the role of a referee with his work colleagues, professional footballers and first class referees alike.