Enjoyed that Tony and Ian, thanks. You're right about surrounding yourself with good players before you started reffing - that Conver Foam team in the Darwen league was pretty decent if I remember correctly
My boss at Blackburn Council was also a ref at the top level who you may have known; Phil Richards. Horrible little scouse bastard, though to be fair to him I have no idea how he found the time to do his job and referee in the top flight at the same time. Like you Tony, normally as a favour and because he enjoyed it so much, he also did a few local semi-pro and amateur games - mainly cup finals and such like.
You should be very proud of where you got to in the game.