As national group manager of the Professional Game Match Officials, David will be responsible for managing, training and appointing officials to matches in the Coca-Cola Football League, Carling Cup and Johnstone Paint Trophy.

The group consists of 57 of the most experienced referees in English football, and David will be working closely with Keith Hackett, who is general manager.

Football League Director of Operations, Andy Williamson said: "David is a high quality appointment with a long and successful track record as a referee in both The Football League and Premier League."

It is now 40 years since David started his career in the Morecambe & Lancaster Sunday League. He became a Football League linesman in 1977, and was promoted to the referees list in 1980.

Coaching
In 1992, he refereed in the Premier League for the first time and four years later officiated at the Division One Play-Off Final between Crystal Palace and Leicester City at Wembley. In total, he refereed 463 League matches.

David has been coaching referees, most recently in the Premier League, since retiring at the top himself 10 years ago.

He said: "Referees today are under extreme pressure. Every critical incident is on TV and there is no hiding place. The game itself is now 40 per cent faster than it was just 10 years ago."

There are now 18 full-time referees, but he believes the day when all refs turn professional is still a long way off.

David, who lives off Derwent Road with his partner Sheila, once featured in a national advertising campaign for refs under the banner From Willow Lane to Wembley.

He said: "I owe a big debt to Lancaster & Morecambe Referees Society."

He is delighted that Lancaster and Morecambe now has three Football League match officials in Jeremy Simpson, Paul Kettlewell and Lee Metcalf, who have all followed in his footsteps.

David, now 58, said: "Naturally, I am delighted with my appointment.

"I hope I can continue to build positive relationships with managers and players and follow up the good work of my predecessor in supporting and guiding referees of the highest calibre within the national group."