the step up to football league referee came in 1999, with his first game being the third division tie on 7 august 1999 between halifax and darlington at the shay, when the home side lost 1–0 to a marco gabbiadini goal. on 18 march 2000, he took charge of a semi-final, first leg, in the fa vase between vauxhall motors and chippenham, which finished 0–0.