Footballers in Walsall got the shock of their lives last week when a refereeing legend took charge of their game.

Mark Clattenburg – former Premier League, Champions League and European Championships referee – was delighted to take charge of the game at Oak Park Active Living Centre as part of Leisure Leagues celebrations after we have had two record months on the trot after lockdown ended.

“It’s great to be able to get in the middle,” said Clattenburg, who is now the Head Referee in Greece “and its great to see the lads all playing again. The last few months has been hard on everyone, and everyone has seen their fitness and mental health suffer, even leagues such as this seem to be a massive step back towards normality.”

This is a thought echoed by Leisure Leagues’ Tom Nash who said the firm, now with leagues in 10 countries around the world, have been delighted with the responses up and down the country: “It’s a pattern that began in the last lockdown,” Tom explained. “Teams were flying in in September and then November saw another flood. That all being said, even then we we’ve been amazed just how many teams have joined since March 29^th. It’s been incredible.”

Mark Clattenburg is Leisure Leagues Ambassador. He has refereed at our last two World Cups- in 2018 in Lisbon and 2019 in Crete – and will be back in 2021 when the carnival moves to Mexico,

He is committed to making more surprise visits to Leagues in 2021 – so look out for the world’s top referee at your nearest 3G, only with Leisure Leagues.