TWELVE months on, and the man who kickstarted the Daily Echo's Respect the Ref campaign is still feeling he is the lone voice of realism.

Blackfield-based official Steve Hatch provoked a big debate this time last year when he revealed he and his two teenage sons had all been on the receiving end of indiscipline on parks pitches across Hampshire.

Liam 16, and Jamie, 19, have stopped officiating in the last year due to the levels of abuse they experienced.

And their father, though still refereeing in football, has contemplated taking charge of rugby instead!

Hatch was hopeful of his fellow referees picking up the baton he held last year and telling their own tales of life at grass-roots level.

It didn't happen.

"I got slated by some people when I spoke out last season. Some said I should resign because I was giving refereeing a bad name," Hatch said "All I said was what was going on. People don't want to see what's really going on.

"I have asked other people to speak out but they don't want to rock the boat.

"I just want the game to be played in the right spirit, with not too much of the bad stuff. That's all I want.

"It's good that you're starting the Respect the Ref campaign again. You need to get more referees telling it how it really is, but they won't do it - I feel like I'm the only one saying what the reality is.

"There is a lot of arrogance among the referees, they won't talk about how it really is. It beggars belief."

Hatch added: "I'm still doing it, though I don't feel the same way about it as I used to.

"Liam, my youngest son, has been assaulted twice now and he gave up doing mens' football as it was too aggressive. He hasn't registered as a referee this season which is sad.

"Liam was kicked in the calf by an irate parent after a youth six a side tournament.

"Then at the end of another six a side tournament earlier this year he was pushed over while he was talking to one of the organisers. That's common assault.

"We contacted the police but they didn't really want to know. So where are the deterrents to stop that person doing what he did again?

"Jamie, my eldest son, has also packed it in. He got to the stage where he was getting so much abuse he wanted to hit someone, and you can't do that if you're a referee.

"It's still a big problem in football. It starts at the top and filters down to grass roots football. You have to get on top of the professional players - and the crowds.

"Just because someone has paid to watch a match it doesn't give them the right to behave irrationally. They are just using football as a vehicle for their anger.

"The FA are just not strong enough.

"I was spat at last year and I was talking to a rugby ref recently and he said if a player did that to him he would get a life ban.

"Where's the parallel between that and football?

"Rugby is a far more physical game than football yet the rugby authorities want their refs treated with respect.

"In football, the referees are far more of an easy touch.

"Where are the deterrents? In football they just don't exist. It's the people at the top doing the damage. They are not setting the deterrents.

"If they could sort the discipline out, that would be brilliant. Because when you get two teams playing in the right spirit both going out to win it's a fantastic game.

"I was even thinking about becoming a rugby referee because you get more respect there.

"You don't get the shouts you hear from the touchline in football - stuff like how much are they paying you ref?' You don't need it.

The Echo are relaunching our Respect the Ref campaign in light of a spate of high profile incidents.

There was an outcry over referee Graham Poll's handling of Chelsea's loss at Tottenham, female official Amy Rayner was criticised by Luton boss Mike Newell, and the fourth official was hit on the head by a coin at Newport last Saturday.

All those incidents come under the same indiscipline umbrella.

Hatch continued: "Referees don't go out there with an agenda or an axe to grind. They don't deliberately make certain decisions for the sake of it.

"That poor lady (Amy Rayner) got all that stick. That could be really damaging to her.

"Newell is another role model. Managers have a responsibility - but so often you just see them slating refs and officials.

"The pundits, like Andy Gray, are also role models, they have a responsibility, but they can be irresponsible.

"Referees are scutinised before, during and after games - why don't they ever try and see it from a ref's perspective?"

Regarding his own experiences this season, Hatch added: "The levels of dissent vary. You always get a bit of what is called banter' - that's a generalisation for all sorts of misdemeanours.

"If I was to be honest, it has got a bit better.

"But I did a cup tie the other week involving Ice Sports and FC Poland. I ended up thinking come on lads, it's only a game of football!' "People think football is an easy excuse to misbehave.

"One bloke turned up smelling of booze saying I heard there was a bit of trouble - I've come to join in'. What's all that about!"

"The f' word is now common - you can't send everyone off for saying it otherwise you'd have no players left.

"The c' word has also been wheedling its way in. You are viewed as a bad person by players if you have a word with someone for saying that."