Whistling as a career

AUTHOR Dave Ball with his book "Give A Little Whistle".

DAVE BALL’S experiences as a local football referee were far removed from those of top officials like Graham Poll and Mike Riley.

‘Give A Little Whistle’ is a light-hearted autobiography as the 63-year-old from Salem looks back on the trials and tribulations of being the man in black.

Not only that, but Ball also reflects on his own amateur playing days - including three years in Germany while serving in the Army - and also the time he spent as secretary, programme editor and Jack of all trades at Chadderton Football Club.

He said: “I love reading autobiographies and it is great to hear about people having successful sporting careers. But there are many more who turn out for no money in appalling conditions and with no facilities.

“I thought it would be nice to tell of my experiences at a lower, grass-roots level which, I hope, are just as interesting. That is how the book came about.”

Ball refereed mostly in the Oldham Sunday League, but he did mix in higher circles for a time as he rose through the ranks to become a fourth official in the Football League and he also recalls those matches, which included a number of Athletic games at Boundary Park.

But it was at grass-roots level that Ball, employed by Argos at Heywood as a fork-lift truck driver, found his niche and the book is an A to Z of local football from the mid-1970s.

He also gives his thoughts about today’s game, the future of football and looks back to his heroes, whom he places into various all-star teams.

The book is published by Lulu and is only available on line at www.lulu.com and is priced at £7 plus post and packaging.