GEORGE Littlechild is making a name for himself on the local rugby circuit.

However, the 17-year-old is not earning his reputation as a player but as much-respected referee.

He is already a level eight official and a member of the Suffolk and North Essex Referees Society.

At the end of last season he was selected onto the Eastern Counties Federation and, having started playing rugby for the under-tens at Clacton, he recently returned to his first club to referee the Seasiders’ first-team fixture against rivals Harwich and Dovercourt.

Having joined the Suffolk and North Essex Referees Society in 2015, Littlechild, who lives in Kirby Cross and also played for Brightlingsea, joined the Suffolk and North Essex Referees Academy.

He has now became part of a select group of junior referees being guided by coaches and match observers.

The academy was set up to provide extra training for new referees, with a mixture of both practical and theory elements.

“George has fully embraced his involvement in the academy and demonstrated his ability to take on board feedback and make positive changes to improve his performance,” said academy manager Matt Rozier.

“As a result of this he has progressed rapidly, rising through the local leagues to now referee in London League division three, covering games throughout the whole of Eastern Counties from Clacton to Holt.

“He is a credit to the academy and a clear example of the opportunity available to other young people who want to try refereeing.”

Littlechild is flying out to New Zealand next summer where he plans to spend the summer refereeing on the North Island.

To find out more about joining the Suffolk Society, email thaeusrozier@hotmail.co.uk