TAVISTOCK Specials secretary and Ability Counts referee Allen Lewis has been selected to referee in the National Cerebral Palsy football leagues this season.

Allen, from Tavistock, was picked, with the backing of Devon FA, to go on a course in early November, with other referees from around the country.

The special course will be held in Coventry by the Football Association to improve the skills and knowledge of refereeing cerebral palsy footballers.

Throughout the season the team of refs will be assessed with a view to be officials at next year's Paralympics in London and the Paralympics World Cup in Manchester 2012.

Allen said:'This is such an incredible opportunity for me and it will help get a better profile for my work with the Ability Counts football in Devon.

'I intend on making the most of this chance to potentially referee international matches and I am thrilled by this news as are the Devon FA ,who have backed my work over the past few years.'