VETERAN referee Peter White has given all match officials the secret behind his amazing career - make sure you cut out the swearing!

The former Football League official celebrated his 74th birthday last weekend by refereeing a match at Fleming Park in Eastleigh.

That was the same venue he had begun his reffing career exactly 50 years previously!

White's remarkable career was featured in the Daily Echo last Saturday.

Today, the Lymington-based official - Hampshire CCC's scorer when they last won the championship in 1973 and a former Southampton Open bowls champion too - reveals that ordering players to cut out the x-rated words is key to keeping control.

And White is only too happy to fully endorse the Daily Echo's Respect the Ref campaign and reveal the rituals that allow him to whistle without controversy.

"Refereeing is mainly about control. That's the most important thing, that's what I have learnt over the years," he said.

"The main thing is I do not allow swearing on the pitch.

"I go into the dressing rooms before a game - not that I'm supposed to - and tell both teams no swearing today'. Then as we go onto the pitch I tell them again.

"Then I call both captains together and tell them again. If I hear any swearing, I will take action' I tell them. The message generally seems to get through.

"I firmly believe that if you can control the mouth, you'll control the violence.

"Violence starts from the mouth.

"With any domestic violence situation, you'll get things started with arguments and shouting and it will become physical from there.

"It's the same on a football field.

"If you let players get away with calling each other names then it will get violent.

"I've had a lot of success that way.

"I think players appreciate it and the managers and coaches appreciate it."