Gary Beswick’s talking about his career as a football match official, starting as a 19-year-old with kids’ games on Teesside.

“When I began my ambition was to be a Northern League referee, then to referee a Billingham derby. Then the holy grail was to be on the Football League line.

“I got that on my 30th birthday and I was happy. After a couple of years I thought maybe I could do a bit more.”

He’s now 39, one of 27 full-time Premier League assistant referees and one of seven FIFA men, helped control four Champions League matches in 2016-17 and on Saturday will be what formerly was termed senior linesman in the FA Cup final.

He got to ref a Billingham derby, too.

Gary’s whole family will be at Wembley, none prouder than his dad, Ray, himself a former Northern League linesman and local leagues referee.

How will his dad feel? “I just try to think of myself in that position, how I would be if my little lad was at Wembley,” says Gary. “I guess he’ll be pretty excited.”

Gary lives in Newton Aycliffe with wife Wendy and son Aaron, nine, worked for 17 years with telecoms company Orange in Darlington – latterly part-time – and is now employed full-time by Professional Game Match Officials Ltd.

“The money’s not fantastic but it’s fine, a bit better than Orange,” he says. “It also allows for a life balance. I can regularly pick up my little lad from school.”

Further evidence of life balance, when the column pitches up he’s in the middle of the ironing.

Usually there’s a two-day training camp every fortnight at the FA’s centre at St George’s Park in Staffordshire. If not involved in matches, here or around the world, the rest of the time’s spent training and preparing on his own.

Appliance of science means that heartbeat, pulse, fitness and intensity are not just monitored but uploaded to PGMOL officials (who include a “vision scientist.”)

“People don’t realise how much preparation there is,” says Gary. “Last Sunday I had Man United v Crystal Palace, so I spent a lot of time watching for the sort of things they do.

“If you’ve done your homework, you’re more likely to get it right. There’ll be an awful lot of homework before the FA Cup final.”

He’d played for Billingham Town’s youth team but had no great football interest until the 1990 World Cup finals. “I have three older brothers who’d all watch the match on a Sunday afternoon. I’d be bored and go out to play. I was enthused by England’s performance in 1990.”

His dad, a Hartlepool United season ticket holder, persuaded him to enrol on a referees’ course, but his career almost ended soon after it had begun.

“It was an under 12s game, I specifically remember it was under 12s, and the abuse especially from parents on the sidelines, was out of control.

“It was the closest I’ve been to coming home, throwing my boots in the corner and calling it a day. It went to Durham FA and afterwards they put an arm around me. My dad was very supportive, too. I’m very glad that I continued.”

Twenty years ago, referees were simply ranked from Class 3 to Class 1. After promotion in his first full season, he took another four years to reach Class 1. “My technical reports were very good but I think I lacked man management skills,” he supposes.

Eventually he had to choose between the possibility of games in the Football League middle – “places like Rochdale” – or specialising as an assistant and the chance of seeing the world.

“That’s no offence whatever to Rochdale. It can be just as glamorous if you’re the referee but for me the option I took seemed the best one. I felt I had to show my hand.”

Saturday’s match will be his fifth at Wembley, plus one as reserve assistant. In 2015 he was an assistant at the FA Community Shield, a few months later on the line to Michael Oliver in the World Under 17s final in Chile.

He’s been an assistant in games involving the like of Messi and Neymar, still hopes for major internationals or even World Cup appointments.

At Premier League level, he supposes, the emphasis is on accuracy. “Often our decisions are black and white, your positioning is crucial.

“You also have to have sprinting ability. If you can’t keep up, there’ll be plenty who’ll remind you about it. You have to accept that things will sometimes go wrong, but you have a far better chance if you’re in the right place.

“The referee and assistants are just as much a team. It doesn’t matter who calls it, so long as we get it right.”

The final behind him, bit more time on his hands, he’s contemplating taking up golf. “There were better referees than I was. For me it was the right decision. I absolutrly love it.”

….and finally, the thing which Middlesbrough FC sponsor Ramsdens insist that they don’t sell (Backtrack, May 18) is fish and chips.

Today back to Wembley. Readers are invited to name the six North-East referees who’ve had charge of the FA Cup final since the war.

We’re back in the middle – and no doubt with a few final thoughts – next week.

ends