THE Sunday Combination league has told would-be-referees that they will refund half of their training fees if they then take up the whistle.

The league is suffering from a chronic shortage of officials and came up with the cashback idea at their committee meeting.

On average ten matches a week are taking place without nproper officials and and the situation is even worse at youth level.

Now the league is telling any potential referees who sign up for the ten-week refereeing course that they will refund half of their £62 tuition fees if they then officiate at ten Sunday Combi-nation matches.

And with the FA also promising to return £30 if newly-qualified refs officiate at ten adult games that means budding officials can get fully trained for just £2.

John Hurst, general secretary of the High Wycombe Sunday Combination, said: "We will pay the half that they don't get back off the FA."

The referees course has now been brought forward to start on Monday, October 10.

Anyone who wants to attend the course should contact Bill Cleere, the chairman of the High Wycombe Referees Society, on 01494 526337 The course costs £20 for U14s.