Award star Gordon Crawford on his career in football and keeping calm and collected
He realised his efforts on the amateur football field were not going to justify a call-up to the big time.
But that has not stopped Gordon Crawford from living out a footballing dream at the highest level in Scotland on a Saturday afternoon.
The well-known Perthshire official – a specialist assistant referee – has been involved in more than 60 Scottish Premiership fixtures at venues across the country.
As president of the Angus and Perthshire Referees Association for the past two years, his passion for the game runs far deeper than simply turning up to officiate on any given weekend.
And his commitment to the sport was recently recognised when he was named official of the year at the Perth and Kinross Sports Awards, which were held virtually online.
Gordon, from Findo Gask, said: “I was both delighted and very surprised to be nominated for this award.
“Over the years I have put forward the names of other worthy Perthshire candidates for the title, but never expected to be receiving it myself.
“It is a real honour to be recognised in this way because I have many friends in local refereeing circles and they know some of the sacrifices that have to be made in order to succeed as an official.
“2019 was a year in which I officiated in my 60th match in the Scottish Premiership – an achievement I never would have thought possible when I started refereeing.
“I was assistant referee at stadiums across the country, racking up about 70 matches at all levels.
“Highlights included being an assistant referee at both Celtic Park and Ibrox with over 50,000 fans present at each game.
“And also being involved in a match between Kelty Hearts and Solihull Moors because it was the first time I’d run the line in a competitive game involving an English team.
“In addition, I refereed my first amateur game in many years when the original ref fell ill shortly before kick-off.
“Judging by my perceived performance that day, I don’t think the players of Letham or St Johns will want to see me again any time soon!”
Gordon started to walk the officiating path when injury cut short his playing days. Leaving the world of football completely was never going to cut it.
“I played – in the loosest sense of the word – amateur football in Perth for several years after moving here in 2001,” he smiled.
“After sustaining a bad shoulder injury in 2006/07, and turning 30 around the same time, I decided it was time to stop playing.
“I wanted to stay involved in the game and a friend of mine who was a referee, Jeff Banks, suggested that I give refereeing a try.
“He guided me through the course, set me on the path and I’ve progressed through the levels from youth to amateur to junior and now as a specialist assistant referee.
“When I started I had no real ambition other than to do as well as I could in whatever game I was involved in, and I still have that same approach to matches today.
“The main motivating factor is that I love football. Every referee loves football. We’re not all necessarily very good at playing it, but we have a passion for the game.
“Refereeing has allowed me to be involved at a level that I could never have dreamed of playing at. It also gives me a reason to stay fit.
“I wear a heart-rate monitor whenever I train - several times a week – and have to send the data in to the Scottish Football Association.”
Gordon’s role does not come without sacrifice and trekking to the likes of Elgin or Stranraer means long days away from the family.
“My family have made sacrifices in order to allow me to pursue my refereeing career,” he explained to the Perthshire Advertiser.
“On any given Saturday I could be at any ground in Scotland, many of which require me to be out of the house all day.
“My wife and kids understand my reasons for being involved and I am grateful to them for agreeing to me being able to referee for so many years.