Who is your sporting hero?

I don’t have a hero as such, but always enjoyed watching Pierluigi Collina referee football matches and I picked some useful tips which I have carried over into hockey umpiring.

Who was your sporting mentor?

When I started umpiring, the person that gave me most advice was Alan Carter, ex FIH umpire living in South Wales. Much of my style is down to him.

What is your best sporting moment?

That has to be in 1999 when I was lucky enough to umpire the men’s Under-18 European Championship final in Prague. I loved every moment of it.

What is your worst sporting moment?

Getting injured and missing a cup final in Wales, in what turned out to be my last season there before switching to England.

Do you have any sporting ambitions?

Just to keep going as long as I can before the body tells me to hang up the whistle.

What was the last trophy you won?

As a player, I never won a trophy. Umpires don’t win trophies, we are the pantomime villains!

What’s the best piece of advice you’ve been given?

Listen to all the advice given to you and filter everything so you absorb the most useful, then discard the rest.

What’s the best piece of advice you can give to a youngster?

Just enjoy yourself while you are young.

Do you have any sporting superstitions?

None at all.

What one possession would you save if your house was burning down?

That would have to be the cat, who can sleep through everything without even realising there was a fire.

What five people would you invite around for a dinner party and why?

Difficult one, as I am not a dinner party person. Let’s start with David “Bumble” Lloyd, one of my favourite commentators who has some terrific one liners. Next would be Jeff Stelling, the link man on Sky Sports on a Saturday – essential viewing when I don’t have a game. He can talk about Hartlepool United. Third would be Robert Plant, ex-Led Zeppelin lead singer and still going strong. My all time favourite band. Surely he would have some tales to tell. Fourth one would be Victoria Coren, who always gives full value fronting Only Connect on BBC4 and having her up against Bumble and Snelling would be very interesting. Anyway, whilst I was busy with those four, I would have to invite Martin Shaw along for my wife, to keep her entertained.

Do you have any hobbies outside your chosen sport?

My garden. That is why hockey should never be a summer sport.