Raith’s Grant Anderson candidly confesses he used to give referees dog’s abuse now having qualified as one himself, he prefers to let his playing do his talking for him during games.
The Rovers winger revealed that he became a whistler after a casual conversation with top Scottish official John Beaton.
It is something he wants to pursue further when he finally hangs up his boots but for the moment, the 28-year-old is fully concentrating on playing and tonight’s Petrofac Cup tie at Stenhousemuir.
Anderson said: “The most natural way for footballers to go is down the coaching route, but I’ve never really been one for giving out advice.
“So, one day was I was talking to John Beaton after a game. I was just looking for information and asked him if he happened to have any booklets or pamphlets to let me read up about refereeing.
“Then I got a text from him a couple of days later to say I’d been booked onto a course at the Bellshill Hilton.
“So, I turned up, it was a 10-week course and I passed it. It just happened that way.
“I can referee anywhere up to Junior level. I’ve got to sit another exam before I can move on to the Juniors.
“If I got the opportunity I would definitely have a look at going into refereeing once I hang up my boots.
“I don’t see myself giving up football any time soon, but I want to keep football in my life.
“Refereeing does give you a different insight into the game. When I was younger, I used to give the referees absolute dog’s abuse.
“But, as I’ve got older, I’ve calmed down and now I don’t really shout at a ref. I’ll go and speak to them and I’ll ask them questions why they’ve done this and why they’ve done that.
“I would like to think if you asked any of them they would tell you the same thing. It does give you another view on things.
Anderson added: “Being a footballer, you can actually explain why you’ve given the decision and they’ll understand footballer to footballer.
“That said, I don’t want to tell them I’m a footballer.
“My very first game was a baptism of fire. There was a boy from Easterhouse and he was an absolute lunatic and giving me dog’s abuse.
“He was asking me what I knew about the game and I managed to keep my mouth shut.
“He was saying things like, ‘have you ever kicked a ball before, ref?’!”
Anderson, of course, has great memories of the Challenge Cup, having won it with Raith when it was sponsored by Ramsdens with an unforgettable triumph over Rangers at Easter Road.
Now, he would like to go all the way to the final again.
He added: “This competition brings back brilliant memories for me. It’s my only senior silverware, to date, and to do it the way we did was maybe more special than it should have been.
“It was the Ramsdens Cup but to win it against Rangers at Easter Road in front of a full house was a brilliant day. I really enjoyed that.
“You’ve got to think we’ve got a chance of doing it again.
“If you don’t do that there’s not really any point in taking part. You’ve got to think you’ve got a good chance.”