Three months have passed since Sam Allison became the first black Premier League referee in 15 years - and he is now hoping to inspire the next generation.
Allison, 43, made history as just the second ever black official to take charge of a Premier League game, and the first since Uriah Rennie in 2008, when he was in the middle for the Boxing Day clash between Sheffield United and Luton Town. A second top-flight assignment arrived in March, when he had to stay calm in Bournemouth's frenetic comeback victory over Luton, and he's hungry for more.
Speaking to Mirror Football at the Football Black List, where he and assistant ref Akil Howson received the Cyrille Regis Award, Allison reflected on the positive reception he has received since making his top-flight bow. He's trying to enjoy it as much as possible, while showing there's a path for other black officials to follow his lead.
The former England schoolboys international also reflected on the benefits of playing football competitively before moving into officiating, having enjoyed a playing career in non-league after coming through the youth ranks at Swindon Town. While it's rare for ex-players to take up refereeing, he hopes he won't be the last.
"You feel scared, because you think things are going so well, you're getting so much praise from so many different directions, you're thinking what's around the corner?" Allison says. "I don't know if you've ever played fruit machines or slot machines and you just hit the jackpot and it's rolling in and the money's still coming out. It's a bit like you're not enjoying it as much as you believe you should be, because there's a bit of trepidation.
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"In the game of refereeing you're only as good as your last game, and you're making subjective decisions that you're thinking 'please not today, not today'. But I think on the same token you've got to try and enjoy where you are at the moment, identify where you are, the gravitas that you're making, the monumental strides you're making, but for what purpose? Doing it for the better of your people within your organisation.
"All the work that's going on behind the scenes, there's so many people within and outside of football that are helping us to achieve our dreams," he adds, pointing to the support he's received from the Premier League, PGMOL and Football Black List. "We've just got to do the easy part - let's just get the stuff right on the pitch, let's make sure we're there based on ability."
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Allison was in charge for the thriller between Bournemouth and Luton Town (Getty Images)A regular refrain from fans and pundits is that referees suffer from having never played the game themselves. There's a sense that intricacies can be missed, or decisions can be made without a full understanding of the nuts and bolts of how things work on the pitch.
That's not an issue where Allison is concerned. He spent time on the books of teams within the 92 and played more than 100 times for hometown club Chippenham Town in non-league, and says he's seen benefits of that experience.
"For me personally I think it has [been a benefit], because I think it's helped with personality," he says. "I think it's helped with me to be grounded, because football's got a habit of kicking you where you don't want to be kicked, at times.
"You've got to stay grounded, stay humble, work hard, be true to yourself. Work with the players, too, because you're there to facilitate a safe game of football in the right way.
"That's where football I think has helped me read the game, understand patterns of play, what players want, what they don't want, what they're trying, the dark arts of the game. And just working with them to help you manage the game more effectively. I think that's the benefit I've taken from playing."
Allison was recognised at the Football Black List celebration (Getty Images for The Football Bl)Allison says the door is "always open" for any other current players who see a future for themselves in refereeing. While plenty of those in the game progress to coaching or punditry, the third path is one less frequently trodden.
He's quick to recognise playing the game is not a necessity, though. Some of the best officials in the country come from different backgrounds, and there's no 'one size fits all' solution.
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There are a lot of other officials from ethnic minority backgrounds making their way into the game, from grassroots to the EFL and hopefully beyond, and Allison talks excitedly about the next generation. However, he's also under no illusions that there's still plenty he can pick up from those more experienced than him, whatever their pre-refereeing background.
"I think there's a lot of hype, that people say you have to be a good player to be a good referee, and I think sometimes you don't have to be," he says. "I think there are other attributes that you can bring to the party, and I think by having myself in the position I am, maybe it's a familiar face, maybe it's someone they can get confidence from.
"But let's not beat around the bush, there are other people within the game of refereeing that still have so much more to give and can add more value than I have, so I'm learning from them. Colleagues are helping me along the way to help me achieve what I want to achieve, to be better, give me more tools in my toolbox to help me be the best I can be."
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