“HAVE YOU EVER PLAYED THE GAME,” REF?"

They have, if you must know, so FFT travelled to Warwick to meet the 10 former footballers aiming to make it as match officials – via a World Cup and a stint as a US Open golf caddy...

- Chris Flanagan

Barrington Coombs, PGMOL/PFA

On a breezy Friday at the University of Warwick, three match officials stride into the centre of the pitch, ready to take charge of an under-19s fixture.

Running one line today, Liam Trotter has 300-plus Football League outings to his name, the majority in the Championship for Ipswich, Millwall, Bolton and Nottingham Forest. Holding the other assistant referee's flag in his hand, Peter Vincenti turned out for Aldershot, Rochdale and Stevenage. Grasping the whistle is ex-Barnsley and Gateshead defender George Smith.

FourFourTwo is in the Midlands to witness the trio take the next step towards what they hope will be a future officiating games at the highest level. No former professional footballer has ever refereed in the Premier League, but these three are among 10 ex-pros hoping to change that, as they embark upon the early stages of a three-year Player To Match Official programme. The cast also contains a one-time top-flight forward and a man who played against England at the World Cup.

The programme is a joint initiative involving the PFA and Professional Game Match Officials Limited (PGMOL), the body responsible for referees across professional football in England. With support from the Premier League, PFA and the FA, each of the former players is paid a £40,000 salary while they train as officials, the aim being to fast-track them to the top should they prove competent enough to progress that far.

On the final day of the latest training camp, the officials are taking it in turns to referee 15 minutes apiece. Retired Premier League whistle-blowers Phil Dowd and Lee Mason observe from the sidelines, analysing ahead of a feedback session.

This isn't the most fractious game of football