A SCHOOLBOY has been appointed the region's youngest football referee - at the age of just 14.

Teenager Dan Nelson has just completed an eight-week training course to become an official referee with Sunderland FA and is believed to have become the youngest whistleblower in the North East when he took charge of his first match in the Russell Foster Under-12s League on Sunday.

He has set his goal at one day refereeing a match of his beloved Sunderland - preferably in the FA Cup Final.

Dan said: "At first I was more interested in playing football but I was really chuffed when I passed my exams to be a ref.

"I'd love to go all the way. If you can't play for your favourite team the

next best thing is to referee them and that's more likely to happen."

Dan's interest in being a match official was pricked when he saw a

recruitment stall while visiting family in Yorkshire.

He said: "It was a bit nerve-wracking but I was glad to get my first game

out of the way. I'm only allowed to referee the under 12s so they don't

cause too much trouble.

"I used to play at weekends but now I'm refereeing and I don't miss it at

all."