Bermuda's soccer officials have been given the thumbs-up by English match assistants Jeff Russell and Peter Spink, both of whom recently returned to the UK after participating in the Bermuda Referees Association's exchange scheme.

"We felt that the refereeing over here was not that bad. In fact, it was quite good," said Russell who headed home in time to run the line in last Saturday's Nationwide First Division match between Wimbledon and West Bromwich Albion.

"The officials that we saw in the Premier Division were more then capable to officiate at that level and the lads in the Commercial Division, though not as good as their counterparts in the Premier Division, were good enough to referee in that division."

Russell insisted that overall the Island's referees were more than adequate in their duties.

He did, however, acknowledge a few areas in the sport that required some minor adjustment.

"The amount of paperwork that officials here have to sort through before and after matches isn't what we expected. You don't find that back home (in England)," he said.

"Also some officials turn up late for matches. We feel that a referee should arrive well before a game starts so they can get ready and be prepared for that match.

"Really, it was just the little things that we picked up on that could use adjustment."

Russell noted that during a recent Premier Division match, the assistants wore different attire to the referee - something that wouldn't be acceptable in Europe.

Russell, who was in the middle for the recent match between Somerset Trojans and Devonshire Colts, also commented on how both teams respected his decisions and that overall he thoroughly enjoyed the game, which Somerset won convincingly 4-0.

"I have to say that I really enjoyed it. I found it quite easy because it was not at the level of which I am used to back home. But the players' attitudes towards me and my attitude towards them, I thought, was first class and that was also reflected throughout the entire game.

"In my opinion, the playing surfaces could use a bit of attention and also the little things like goal-posts and goal-nets."

Spink agreed that some of the club facilities were in urgent need of upgrading, especially the changing rooms.

"You can't encourage officials to go out and referee if they are not going to have good facilities and I think that is something that the Bermuda Referees Association and the Bermuda Football Association should get together and try to sort out," said Spink.

"But overall, it has been a good experience for us and definitely the officiating here is of a high standard."

Steve Wakeland, secretary of the Bermuda Referees Association, said that the visit by Russell and Spink had provided local officials with valuable experience and overall it had been a worthwhile experience for Bermuda soccer.

"They came along to one of our meetings and it was good to be able to quiz them on how they do things back over in England," he said.

"I think by and large the way they do things on the pitch is pretty much the same. One of the comments that I have heard made about those guys, is that they tend to let the game flow a little bit better, they don't blow for as much for minor incidents as we tend to do here."