IT'S been a great year for referees in Cornwall, but especially so in the Falmouth-Helston Association whose officials have taken the branch to new heights with their achievements.

Following on fast from the news that Falmouth official Mark Philpott has earned a place as an assistant referee on the Coca Cola Football League line comes the equally welcome news that Kevin Knowles, also from Falmouth, has been promoted to the Contributory Leagues.

It doesn't end there, however, with Nigel Nicholls, also from Falmouth, being promoted to level six and Steve Carpenter of Stithians, Ben Lugg of Cury, Ivor Murdoch of Helston, all being elevated from level six to level five Ben Lugg has also been recommended for promotion to the Contributory League as a referees' assistant as has Ian Roberts of Camborne, also from the Falmouth-Helston Society.

For Kevin Knowles it has been a rollercoaster of a year because apart from the prize of his promotion, this season he will have refereed the top two cup finals in Cornwall, the Cornwall Senior Cup Final between Truro City and Liskeard Athletic and next Monday's Carlsberg SWL Cup final between St Blazey and Launceston.

He has come a long way in a short time. Kevin, who is 43, only took up refereeing in the 2000-01 season, but has made rapid progress.

Referees have to believe in their own ability in the early stages and apply to be promoted, but once you get to level five it becomes a different ball game with the Referees' Association taking over and applying fitness tests and stiff exams before making the final decision.

Now Kevin will be officiating in the Conference South, the Southern League, and the Toolstation Western League with matches as far away as Bristol across to Dorchester.

"When I decided to take up refereeing I never had any ambition other than to try and get on to the South Western League," said Kevin. "That was the top league in the county and that is what you aim for, but I never once thought about anything further than that."

There is still time to make the Football League, but that is something Kevin is not really thinking about: "If it happened then that would be nice, but I'm just delighted to have reach the level that I'm currently at."

Kevin is not alone as a referee in his family. Both sons, Daniel and Dale, who play football, are also qualified referees, so no doubt dad comes under close scrutiny when his boys are watching!