football season just a couple of games old.

Gregory Grimes, chairman of Bermuda Football Association's Referees Committee, said yesterday he was concerned by dwindling numbers within the referees' ranks. As of yesterday there were just 18 registered officials, down from last year when some 27 signed up and 21 were seen out on a regular basis.

The drop-off in numbers will likely mean referees will again be stretched to the limit, particularly over the weekend when they could be asked to officiate on Friday nights, Saturdays and Sundays.

Presently there are only three Grade I referees -- Esten Curtis, Stuart Crockwell and Cal Simons.

Last season the BFA scheduled First and Second Division games for Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays in a bid to guarantee all matches had officials. But that meant more work for the refs.

"It's too much refereeing to maintain anywhere near a decent standard,'' complained Grimes. "I think as a result the players and the game suffers with referees having to do so many games back to back. Players only play once or twice a week.'' Grimes said officials could be at matches on a Friday night, an Alliance or Commercial League match on a Saturday afternoon and then returning that night to help out as linesmen. Then another assignment could follow on a Sunday afternoon.

"We only have one new person and we really can't use him too extensively,'' said Grimes, who predicted that some First Division games would have to go ahead with referees and no official linesmen, especially at times of sickness and vacations.

"We need at least 10 new people straight away to alleviate the problem. The clubs are going to have to come up with people, even if we just use them as linesmen.'' Over the last few years the Referees Association's call for more officials has fallen on deaf ears.

Top referees on the Island receive just under $50 a game with some getting as little as $20. Those figures combined with the abuse that officials are regularly subjected to are believed to have driven some would-be refs away from the game.

"The thing we keep hearing from a lot of people we try to get involved is that there are too many headaches for the amount of money that you get,'' said Grimes. "The majority of people who referee today don't do it for the money.'' With most of the referees over the age of 30, the association are trying to recruit younger members. "Most of the recruiting comes from meeting people one-on-one,'' Grimes explained.

He hopes that current senior players will assist with junior matches on Saturdays, which would enable them to have a better understanding of the rules and how they are applied. Often the abuse that officials receive comes from spectators not understanding the laws of the game.

"We're human and we're bound to make mistakes,'' Grimes admitted. "But some spectators need to become educated on the rule changes.

"They need to have some compassion for those guys who are out there three days in a row who are likely to make a mistake. It's not like a referee will go out there and, like some spectators will have you believe, cheat.'' Martonmere Cup action resumes tonight at BAA Field with defending champions Boulevard and Devonshire Colts playing their first games in the competition.

Colts take on Dandy Town in Group I in the 7.00 opener while Boulevard meet Southampton Rangers in the 9.00 nightcap in Group II.