Premier League referees put through their places at charity event organised by indie band Red Rum Club

Premier League referees Jon Moss and Martin Atkinson were put through their paces yesterday morning at a charity football match organised by indie band Red Rum Club.

The event – which was hosted at Goals in Leeds on Kirkstall Road – took place as part of the band’s album launch day in association with Jon’s record shop, The Vinyl Whistle, in Headingley.

The six-piece band from Liverpool opted to organise a charity game between Bootle Bucks Inclusion FC and Bradford City Disability FC, which is made up of players from across the West Yorkshire region.

Bootle Bucks is a football club close to the band’s heart and with family ties after it was set up in April 2018 with a view to offering coaching to local children in Merseyside who had no access to organised football sessions.

The band sponsors the club’s shirts and decided to bring the team across to Leeds to give them a chance to take on a local side in the area.

Red Rum Club also held an in-store signing session at Jon’s record shop in the afternoon before playing a socially distanced gig in the evening at Blueberry Hill Studios.

Guitarist Michael McDermott told the YEP: “Fran and Tom from the band have family who help run the team.

“It all came about through our manager, who knew Premier League referee Jon Moss, and that he has a vinyl store called The Vinyl Whistle in Leeds – which is just hilarious!

“We just kind of put two and two together. We’re here in Leeds anyway to do a few things with the album.

“Everyone is bored and everyone wants a game of footie, so why not do this? It’s good fun and great to see everyone enjoying themselves – especially with what’s been going on around us in the world recently.”

Both Premier League match officials took charge of a game each with the event at a slightly different pace compared to what the pair are used to in the top flight.

Martin Atkinson said of the event: “It’s fantastic just to see these young people out enjoying football and just going out and doing it for the love of the game. It’s good for us to give a little bit back."

Jon added: "I'm a big fan of indie music. It's great to have Red Rum Club over in Leeds to promote their new record - The Hollow Of Humdrum.

"It's great they're involved in something such as this on the same day they have a sold out gig to play.

"It just shows the link between football and music. It's a great way for people to talk about things and be passionate about."