Wasn't it refreshing to read about Ben Benning in last week's Park Life?

It served me to think of how many referees are no longer on the pitch because of the hassles they get when officiating or committing themselves to the required number of fixtures a league wants them to do.

I am sure that everyone who is connected with the league that Ben referees in is proud to have such a dedicated official on their list at the age 79.

And I'm sure Ben's good lady wife is as glad to see the back of him when he is out refereeing as most wives are when the other half goes off to the match and just as supportive of him when he returns.

I thought that Ron Bentham was the oldest whistle blower in town but Ben is older by ten years or more, but we are just as proud of Ron at Millennium 2000. Keep blowing the whistle chaps.

But is their too much hassle within the game to make it worthwhile for us younger refs?

I know referees do not do it for the money. All we get is about £11 plus travel expenses. That's hardly a fortune by today's standards, but it's nice to have when you're down the pub.

I have noticed on my travels around the parks that there does seem to be a lack of hospitality from some clubs, when I used to play it was always the skipper who went to the ref with an orange or cup of tea at half time.

Nowadays a ref is lucky to even be acknowledged, unless he makes an unfavourable decision.

Where are those common courtesies that I am sure Ben used to enjoy in his younger heydays?

It is about time football learned how valuable the man in black is and at least make us feel wanted.

I'd also like to open the great debate of why is it Premiership and other senior league referees are allowed to move the ball ten yards forward.

We're all referees. We all do the same job, but in most cases we on the parks have a harder job.

Top flight officials have assistant referees who have good knowledge of the laws of the game, not someone who has been press ganged into it because he arrived late or owes the most in subs or even missed the penalty in the last match.

They get all the smart kits. It seems as though we at grassroot level are being forgotten.