A STUDENT has followed in her father's footsteps after becoming referee for her football club.

Stacey Stewart, 14, from Bishop Barrington School Sports with Mathematics College, in Bishop Auckland, donned her black referee's shirt for the first time last weekend for an under-11s match for her team St Mary's Football Club, which is based in the town.

She plays for St Mary's under-14s team in the Teesside Junior Alliance League and qualified as a level eight referee in May after attending a ten-week course run by Durham Football Association.

She had to sit a written and oral exam on the laws of association football.

"I was pleased with my performance, but found it a bit daunting, it's more complicated than people think as you have a lot of things to watch at once.

"I decided to do the course after my dad did it. I'll never ever complain about a referee's decision again," she said.

Linda Johnson, a PE teacher at Bishop Barrington, said: "Stacey has done really well, she is an outstanding all-round athlete who takes every sport she participates in very seriously."

This year, Miss Stewart has represented the school in football, netball, rounders, athletics, tag rugby and cross country.

She was a young leader during the recent year five curriculum week and helped to coach dance, trampolining and cricket.

Her ambition is to work as a PE teacher or personal trainer.