It's the A-League for Adam Fielding
It's been quite a journey but Shropshire's Adam Fielding has become one of the leading football referees in Australia – taking charge of top matches in the thriving Hyundai A-League.
Fielding, a former student at Belvidere School and Shrewsbury VI Form College, started his refereeing career in his home-town 13 years ago.
He moved to Australia with his wife Siobhan nearly four years ago – the couple live in sunny Perth and are expecting their first child in May.
And he has impressed enough to now be the man in the middle for A-League games.
The League features teams from some of Australia's biggest cities together with Wellington Phoenix from New Zealand.
Matches are televised across Australia but are now also shown in this country, with Fielding's latest match – last weekend's clash between Perth Glory and Central Coast Mariners – broadcast live on BT Sport.
Former Irish international striker Andy Keogh scored twice as Glory eased to a 4-0 win with Fielding sending off two Mariners players, including ex-Liverpool and Barcelona star Luis Garcia.
Fielding, 30, is delighted how he has been able to climb the refereeing ranks, but remembers his early days.
He said: "I initially took the referees' course at the old Gay Meadow.
"At the age of 17, I fractured my patella playing football and, while having my leg in a full length cast, I decided to take the referees' course."
Fielding admits his early days refereeing in Australia after emigrating were difficult – but he quickly started to impress the right people.
He said: "It was very tough but I was fortunate that the head of refereeing in our state saw that I could referee and pushed me hard.
"The game is a lot more technical but less physical. Another major difference would be the travelling to a game.
"I live in the remotest city in the world and my average travel distance to a game is approximately 4,000km."
