In the short time he has been refereeing in Bermuda, Gary Cook has earned the nickname Smiler ... and he's quite happy about it.

The 46-year-old senior vice president with ACE Insurance flashes a beaming grin and admits: "Smiler, yes it seems as if I have acquired a nickname like that. But if I can go out and referee with a smile and come off the same way, then it's been a nice day.'' Cook's involvement at a time when the sport has been beset with attacks on referees and crowd violence is little short of amazing.

For it is not often Bermuda has had a senior executive from a major international exempt company -- and also the father of three children -- find time to give to soccer.

Even more astonishing is the fact that he does it free, preferring to donate the fee awarded to him as a Class One referee back to Bermuda Football Association, with instructions to place it towards the further development of junior soccer.

Smiler? Some might prefer to call him soccer's Good Samaritan.

Cook, though, couldn't care what name he is given; his main goal is to help.

He has been refereeing for 18 years, officiating regularly in the old Southern League in England (now the Vauxhall Conference), his hard work earning him the occasional assignment in the Football League.

News of his arrival in Bermuda three years ago leaked out quickly and before long Bermuda Football Association officials were on the line in a bid to secure his services.

"Yes, I got involved fairly quickly,'' he recalls. "Somebody at Ace kindly informed the BFA that there was a new Class One referee arriving and when the season started in September of that year the phone rang and I was happy to help out.'' And since coming forward to give his assistance he has done so without being rewarded financially.

"I look at it this way. We get a lot out of living in Bermuda and we would like to try and find ways to give something back to the Island and the community ... and the onething that I can do that is not insurance related is to help out with soccer and refereeing,'' he says.

"I just thought it was the right thing for me to do. I don't want people to point a finger at me and say he is a Class One referee and he is taking anything.

"I feel that it isn't right for me to make financial gain out of soccer here.

What I have done with the agreement of the BFA is to have all my match fees donated into youth soccer, like the pee wees and the younger lot -- that's where the future really lies.

"And I enjoy refereeing here a lot more than people thought I was going to.

There is an enormous amount of enthusiasm here for the game among the players and officials because everybody wants to see good things happen for soccer in Bermuda.'' Cook, however, does try to limit his involvement to one game a week because he still need to put in some quality time at home. "I will help out as best I can. It is important that we all recognise, especially in my case when my work calls for a lot of business travelling, that one needs to have some time with the family.

"One boy is coming up to 18, another approaching 16 and there is my 11 year-old daughter ... so I try to make myself available for at least one game a week when I am here.'' Cook wouldn't comment on the controversial incidents that have plagued the sport in recent months, merely pointing out that "there is always sadness when negativity becomes associated with any sport''.

His other hobbies include golf, but it's something he doesn't have a lot of free time for. "I try to get out when I can,'' he says. "It's a relaxation and delight and privilege to be able to play here on the courses.

"But the thing I love about soccer was once my playing career ended early I was able to get to a higher standard than I could have ever achieved as a player and that has given me enormous satisfaction.

"And I have just as much fun doing what I do here as I did with the number of games I got involved with in the UK.'' Like most countries Bermuda has a chronic shortage of officials in the lower divisions, particularly at the junior level, and this concerns Cook.

But he adds: "I feel the shortage here encourages us to do as much as we can individually. People need to appreciate there are shortages in this level in the UK and wherever you go. Bermuda is fortunate to have some good referees, some who take an active interest.'' WHAT'S COOKING -- Gary Cook is not only one of the Island's top referees, the ACE Insurance execuctive donates his fee back to the BFA.