It was the first time that Jules Cook, 51, and a Warrant Officer One in the Royal Marines Band Service and Lewis Cook, 22, a Football Delivery Administrator at Cornwall FA, have officiated at this level together

It was a family affair on Saturday as father and son were been appointed to the officiating team for the FA Vase clash between Elburton Villa and Sturminster Newton United.

It was the first time that Jules Cook, 51, and a Warrant Officer One in the Royal Marines Band Service and Lewis Cook, 22, a Football Delivery Administrator at Cornwall FA, have officiated at this level together where Lewis was the referee and Jules the Assistant

Living in Torpoint, they were the only Cornwall based officials appointed to an FA Vase match this weekend.

Both qualified as referees in 2018 with the Royal Navy FA and Cornwall FA and progressed through the levels, they have both reached level 4 (step 5&6 matches in the football pyramid) referees. Jules is now a level 5 referee and Lewis a level 4 and both have been involved in refereeing matches from youth football, all the way up to Southern League fixtures and FA Cup and Vase matches.

Lewis said: “I started refereeing when I was 14 and this is my first season as a level 4 referee. I’m looking forward to the game as it’s always nice to be appointed to a match like this.”

“I’ll treat it just like any other game but it’ll be great to walk out with my dad as my assistant”

Jules said “I didn’t start my refereeing journey till later on in life but I was really proud to become a level 4 referee. I have dropped down a level due to other commitments and I’m also a match day coach, mentor and observer, but I still enjoy refereeing when I can”

“To be appointed by the FA to a match is always a privilege, but to be on the same match as my son is not something you get to do very often, so I’ll really enjoy the day”

“I’m probably a little biased, but Lewis has the ability to progress further up the refereeing levels if he puts in the hard work and I’ll be there to support him and maybe one day I might be watching him officiating in the Premier League."