REFEREEING headaches are seldom far from the top of the Craven & District Football League agenda and as the season moves into the crucial final weeks, there is no change to the troublesome status quo.

The lack of officials to take charge of a full league programme has been with the Craven League - and very many others - for a while now, although the parlous situation is starting to bite as crunch games in all divisions start to impose real burdens on league officials.

The West Riding County FA has already discussed the possibility of making it mandatory for clubs to send at least one official on a refereeing coaching course during the summer in an effort to ensure that every club has at least one person willing and competent to take charge of a game in an emergency.

Last weekend ten games in the Craven League were scheduled to need support from clubs to find an official from within their own ranks, with all but one of those games going ahead.

A problem has already arisen, however, with clubs claiming that they are unable to find a volunteer, but allowing the opposition to travel in the hope of getting a game.

Two clubs in the Craven League are facing the prospect of hefty fines for their failure to contribute positively to the difficult situation and in failing to do so, inflicting wasted journeys on their visitors.

"Clubs are advised on Saturday mornings at the latest that an official referee will not be available and we hope that they can make some arrangements to get games played," says league secretary Peter Marsden. "The situation is by no means unique to the Craven League and it could be that the concept of clubs being required to send individuals on coaching courses will be taken up as an answer to the problem.

"It is not something I think we can make mandatory, but at the same time, if clubs want to remedy the situation, they need to contribute. Simply refusing to play is of no value to anybody and very disappointing for players who look forward to their game each week."