A CHIPPENHAM football referee has no plans to call full-time on his career as he goes into his 40th year of working in the game.

Ady Hunt has become a regular fixture on football fields across Wiltshire over the decades and referees in more than 50 games a year.

The 63-year-old has refereed at a semi-professional level and currently officiates in local leagues on both Saturday and Sunday.

“I played football for Chippenham Town but I got an ankle injury when I was 21-years-old and couldn’t tackle anymore which broke my heart and I thought what am I going to do on Saturday,” said Mr Hunt, who has been with his partner, Sue, for the past two years, and has two children and three grand-children.

“I took a few years out of the game and I decided to take refereeing up in 1976.

“Refereeing is all about communication, I enjoy people and it’s the challenge of controlling the players.

“Years ago you could give banter and talk to players and give them a quiet word in the right way and it’s just the same.

“You can still have banter but I do think there’s less respect now.

“I like a pint after a game and you get to know the managers and it’s all part of being a ref.

“At the top level you don’t get that because they think it’s favouritism but as a referee all you see are numbers and colours and if that tackle is wrong you say that no matter who they are.”

The Manchester City fan has worked for Knorr-Bremse in Lacock for more than 30 years alongside his refereeing career but has no plans to retire from the beautiful game anytime soon.

He said: “I’m enjoying it still and I think I will continue to referee and will carry on until I drop.”