Fan replaces fourth official during Newport County match

Wayne Barratt had to take over as the man in the middle

A football fan who had to replace the fourth official in a Newport County home game has said he initially thought it was "a joke".

Mike Hurdle, 28, was watching his side, Portsmouth, from the stand at Rodney Parade when referee James Adcock was injured in the first half.

A call went out over the loud speaker at half-time for anyone with referee qualifications to step in.

Mr Hurdle said he was "overwhelmed" to play a part in Newport's 1-0 loss.

Fellow official Wayne Barratt had to take Mr Adcock's place in the middle for the second half.

And Royal Navy engineer Mr Hurdle who has only refereed a handful of Saturday and Sunday league matches since qualifying in March, was surprised when the call went out.

"I turned around to my mate and I said, 'this has got to be a joke'. And then I thought, 'why not?'"

'Stick from fans'

After being ushered into a changing room, Mr Hurdle, of Plymouth, was told he had to switch his Portsmouth shirt for something more neutral.

"I walked out onto the pitch and, rightly so, I got some stick from the Newport fans," he added.

The fourth official helps with administrative duties, managing technical areas and substitutions, keeping a back-up record of the score and cautions, and displaying information on extra time to spectators.

Mr Hurdle said Portsmouth's bench even quizzed him over the four minutes of extra time awarded as the visitor's tried to close out the League Two clash.

However, he added: "I couldn't have done anything to influence the game."

Mr Hurdle said the experience was "incomparable" to anything from his short time of officiating in the sport.

"It was absolutely overwhelming. I couldn't stop smiling all the way home, for two hours back to Plymouth."