Billericay's Andy D'Urso is to become one of the first of English soccer's new breed of professional referees.

Bank official D'Urso, who joined the Premiership list of officials two years ago, was on Friday among the 24 elite refs named to be full-time in a list issued by The Pro Game Match Officials Board.

D'Urso, a regular figure in the non-league soccer world locally before his elevation to the Premiership ranks, and his pro colleagues will be paid an annual retainer of £33,000 plus a match fee of about £900 per game.

They will take charge of all Premiership and selected Nationwide League matches along with major FA Cup ties.

News of the appointments will appease those in the game who have suggested for years that, in the modern high pressure big-money game of pro football, there was no room for part-time officials.

Specific training and development will also take place for the new pros and referee head Philip Don said: "It will enhance our status and standing in the game. The new arrangements are designed to improve the standard of refereeing."

Certainly D'Urso was given an early lesson about the pressures at the highest level of the pro game in his first season on the Premiership list when he hit the national headlines after being surrounded by almost the entire Manchester United side after making a controversial decision.

D'Urso was unavailable for comment.

By Dick Marshall

Reporter's e-mail: dick.marshall@notes.newsquest.co.uk

Converted for the new archive on 19 November 2001. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.