Neil Byers is an active referee in amateur rugby league circles despite being in his eighth decade.
At 70 years of age he is the elder statesman in a small number of officials who desperately need new blood into their ranks.
I picked out ten questions for Neil to answer.
Neil great to have you as our guest, just tell me your sporting background as a good Broughton lad?
I first started playing for Broughton Red Rose Under 17’s when I was thirteen and progressed to open age rugby for them.
I then went to play for Cockermouth but in 1978, at 26 years old, I sustained a serious back injury.
That ended my playing career, also my time in football as I had also played for the RNAD team for a number of years.
What was it that got you into refereeing and how old were you?
A couple of years after finishing playing my brother Alan, who was refereeing, talked me into giving it a try.
So I was 28 when I started my refereeing career – and it’s gone from there.
How tough is it to keep going as a senior and how do you keep yourself fit?
It is obviously harder the older you get but I like to keep fit because it is not fair on the players if a referee is not up to fitness and is 20 yards behind play and making wrong decisions.
I do a lot of walking and running and I am very lucky because I can eat what I want and don’t put a lot of weight on.
Generally what is the attitude of the modern player to you as a referee?
I find that being a referee for so long that (especially in Cumbria) I get a lot of respect from players of all ages as well as officials.
But respect is a two way thing and I have to earn respect on the field as well.
How far did you get on the referee’s ladder Neil before concentrating on local games?
I had got to Grade Two at the time which meant I was touch judge for open age professional games; I was reffing Alliance games (A team pro clubs) and in charge of National Conference games.
I actually refereed the first-ever Conference League game between Pilkington Recs and West Hull.
When Super League was formed I was selected to go on the panel of touch judges which I did for many years.
But due to shift work I eventually took a step back because I could not commit as much as I wanted.
I am sure there will have been, but any amusing stories you can tell us in your time as a referee?
I was touch judge at Wigan one day and Martin Offiah was on my wing. He was a proper gentleman and always had a bit of banter.
This one day he scored in the corner and he said jokingly – “Where were you at there touchy (slang for touch judge)?”
I also replied in jest – “I was in front of you waiting for you to cross the line and put the ball down.”
He laughed and said “I must be slowing down.”
More recently I was refereeing a local game at Under 12’s level (20 minutes each way) and midway through the second half a young guy asked me how long was left.
I jokingly said “25 minutes” to which he responded “thank you sir” and just got on with the game.
Going back over the years who are the best players you have officiated?
I think it has to be the Super stars of Wigan and St. Helens in the 1980’s/90’s. Every Boxing Day for a few years I was chosen to run the line and the talent on display was just brilliant.
Generally what do you think of the standard of local ARL now compared to when you started?
I think the standard has gone down a lot from when I played. Each club had one team with about 20 plus players so you had to work hard to get a game.
Now, with A teams, a lot of lads can just turn up and get a game.
You spent a lot of time refereeing kids and youth games. How satisfying is that and does that give you hope for the future of the sport up here?
I love refereeing the kids and youths rugby. For the past few years I have been doing the English Schools tournaments for Cumbria, years seven to eleven and I know a lot of the players from their club sides.
I get total respect from them which is a credit to the schools and teachers, and there is a mass of talent at junior level.
Finally Neil, obviously the local League needs more referees. Why is there a shortage and if anyone fancies it how do they go about it?
I think one of the reasons is a lack of respect which comes from spectator abuse. Because of that we have lost a lot of good referee, young and old over the years.
The referees have a Facebook page, as do CARL so anyone fancying taking up the whistle should get in touch with either.
