I AM well-known for my love of referees. But after watching Spanish football for a few weeks I have to say if I was a ref I'd go over there because they are awful!

The commentators on Sky said the refs think they are more important than the players and I think it is getting like that over here.

I am still waiting for local whistle blowers to get onto the Nationwide League and Premiership lists. I can only think of Tony Leake and Eddie Wolstenholme from round here.

It is a sign of the quality of refs in the area that only two have gone that far.

If others were to get there it might encourage more to take up refereeing.

When I was manager of Great Harwood Wellington I gave a ref from Rishton a lift to a cup game in Bury.

He rang me to ask if I could take him and I was good enough to. But he made a series of poor decisions throughout the match so I left him there to find his own way home!

I saw him recently and he said he was a class one referee at the time. If that's true I should have played for England at cricket - and football.

A lot of people say refs know the laws but they don't know the game.

You could say more people would become refs but for the likes of me being critical but I never complain about refs!

Whenever anyone else complains they always spit the dummy out and say what does he know but I have played and watched more games than they've had hot dinners.

Stanley's win over Worksop was great, it was the first time I have been able to relax in the last half-hour. Brilliant.

But it is not over yet. There are still 12 games left and we will have to win more games to secure promotion.

It was good to see Ramsbottom get a third win in four at the weekend, inspired by young Doni Clarke.

I'm sure it won't be long before they are further up the table where they belong.

I know their chairman Harry Williams very well but he still owes me a pint I was promised seven years ago!

It seems reporting on Stanley is a curse. The second Stanley reporter this season, Nina Haigh, is packing it in. I feel sorry for whoever takes over. Reporting on us is the kiss of death!

Don't forget the Marsden Trophy semi-final against Kendal tomorrow. We will be expected to win but these games do throw up surprises.

But it would be nice to get the final again, although nobody knows when or where it will be played.

Twelve games to go!