Umpires in the Bristol Downs League are not always amateurs.

When Richard Morris is not on duty for League One or League Two matches, he returns to where he started to offer his services.

“It’s a chance for me to meet up with my old friends and remember how I got out of the system and where I came from,” he said.

“It’s really important to remember who supported you so you can support the next generation.”

A week ago he was refereeing Portsmouth’s senior match against Cheltenham Town before joining the ranks of 20-30 referees. They meet every Saturday to officiate at the Downs.

“When you walk into the umpires’ locker room at the Downs, there’s a sense of community there,” Morris added.

“A lot of the guys have been refereeing games at the Downs for years and they really are like family.”

One of the strong figures in the Bristol refereeing community is Bill Bombroff. The player, now 86, has managed matches for clubs such as Liverpool and Tottenham Hotspur in the old First Division and the European Cup.

Today he serves as the Downs League’s referee advisor and helps train new officials for the league.

“He’ll give you so much information, he’ll take you the first week, he’ll call or email you on Monday, he’ll give you little pointers as to where you need to go,” referee Nick Baddell said.

“Then he’ll leave you alone for two to three weeks, then go back to monitor you to see if you’re getting the information he thinks you need to work on.”