They might be the scourge of every football supporter and the brunt of all abuse but there's one man at Preston North End who understands where referees are coming from.

Jack Kay has worked as the Referee Liaison Officer at the Club for over two decades assisting match officials with a number of different duties that all help things run smoothly come three o'clock on a Saturday afternoon at Deepdale.

From the despair of 23^rd placed finish in Division Four in 1985 to the heights of the Play-Off Final in 2005, Jack has been on PNE's books.

His main responsibilities may take place out of spectator sight but as he explains, he plays a bigger part as the players when it comes to making sure that Preston are on the right end of the dubious refereeing decisions.

"It simply involves looking after the match officials and making sure that when they arrive everything is in place for them," said the charismatic man.

"If I hadn't been a referee then I don't think I would have enjoyed it the same.

"When I was refereeing I only got as far as the Northern Premier League, but still at that level I knew how I wanted to be treated. If a particular team made me feel welcome then I would always remember, so I try my best for Preston now.

"I've been involved with Preston for a number a years and when I retired from work on a full-time basis they asked me would I like to carry on.

"I help by doing three days a week working on the Club lottery and my matchday duties because I love Preston North End, it's as simple as that.

"At the end of the day, if the officials turn round to me and say 'thank-you very much, we've enjoyed the day' then that's my job done.

"There hasn't been anybody come here yet who have been disappointed with the treatment they have received. You can ask any referee and they will say that they enjoy coming to Preston because they know that they are well looked after."


Jack with former PNE Manager John Beck

It's a hectic schedule for Jack on a matchday where he undertakes a range of tasks ranging from supplying officials with their programmes, introducing them to the safety control officers, overseeing the exchange of the teamsheets between the club captains and even making sure that the fourth official's board is charged up!

Once the game is underway however a vantage point in the 'technical area' is the 65-year-old's usual location, a position he has seen many incidents occur over the years.

"Having been a referee myself I have to say that I am a referee's man. I get some stick from the bench sometimes but all I can say is that I haven't appointed them, I'm only looking after them," he added.

"It's very funny. You see all the managers and once the game starts, they do change.

"It's because of the pressure, but after the full-time whistle everything calms back down again. I've seen quite a few things going on over the years in the dugouts because there are a lot of characters within the game."

"Working in the job for so long, I've got to know all the referees quite well and you can go back as far as George Courtney. I got on well with Jeff Winter when he first started refereeing; I remember Mike Riley and a lot of other Premiership officials who were just starting out in their careers too.

"Refereeing is a thankless job but ultimately it is a rewarding job. You can't make 22 players happy but as long as it's in your mind that you have done the job to the best of your ability and been honest, that's all you can do."

Jack enjoyed a relatively successful playing career with local amateur side Roach Bridge, working his way through the local leagues and even gracing the hallowed Deepdale turf on four occasions in regional cup finals.


Jack (middle of front row) and Roach Bridge team mates

Whilst most former players decide that coaching is the best way to stay in the game following retirement, Kay sought an alternative method when a few friends prompted him with the idea of becoming a whistle-blower.

Jack continued: "Like with anything, when you get old you start thinking that it's getting a little too much so a few people asked me to start up refereeing. I decided to give it a go and it went on from then.

"I didn't start until I was about 32-years-old and to be honest that was a little too late. Refereeing is like an apprenticeship because it takes you five years to get started out on the ladder, but the problem is that if you are not up there by a certain age then you can't go any higher.

"In hindsight if I had started out a few years earlier then I might have been able to get on the Football League, but I will always tell people that playing comes first and then refereeing is the next best thing."


Jack in early 90s with Eastenders & Coronation St stars

The shortage of young referees on the circuit is something that is causing a concern. Referees are often on a hiding to nothing with the advances in technology regularly undermining split-second decisions.

But the 65-year-old believes that it shouldn't deter prospective officials because there wouldn't be a game without them.

"It's alright calling referees and hurling abuse at them, however you can't play the game without them. Players and managers call referees but at the end of the day they all want one there.

"Nowadays I think that people won't do the job. There aren't enough referees coming through whether that is down to a lack of interest or taking up other hobbies like golf for example.

"At the lower levels referees do the job because they enjoy it and they aim for promotion but once it happens then that is when the pressure starts. You have to say to yourself that you must get everything right and it's alright with the developments of technology where television companies have replays from different angles and in slow motion, but you have to remember that referees can't do that.

"Referees have a second to make their mind up and it's not easy."


Jack with Scotland and Liverpool legend Kenny Dalglish

The staff at Deepdale are also familiar to another of Jack's regular duties when lunchtime ticks around on a Wednesday afternoon.

As soon as the cry "chip shop anyone?" echoes through the offices, everyone's eyes light up in the knowledge that he is set to make his customary weekly visit.

Jack concluded: "I've been doing the chippy run for about four years now. I think it all started when I went one afternoon and when they got a smell of it they asked me to get them some next time I went.

"We're talking about an order of £25 on a regular basis because people in our office ask for absolutely allsorts. Everyone says that they are on diets but as soon as I come back with a box of chips they want some. I'll even ask the Gaffer and the backroom staff if they want any now!

"I always try my best to get the right order and I suppose no one dares to moan at me if I forget an order because they know I won't go again."