Gas vs Accrington match day thread.

SOMERSET official Kevin Johnson today reflected on his "exciting" elevation to Football League refereeing status and enthused: "I can't wait to get started."

The 37-year-old former Bristol Post printer has been promoted to the Level One National Referees List, one of only four officials in the country to make the grade this term. It means Johnson, who is already accustomed to the rigours of running the line on the Football League, will be thrust increasingly into the spotlight as the man in the middle from the start of the 2014-15 programme.

Johnson, pictured, said: "It's an exciting feeling, to be involved at that level of football, and it's an ambition fulfilled. I can't wait for the fixtures to come out and I can't wait for my first game.

"I can see myself starting off in League One and League Two and then, all being well, progressing to a Championship game or two."

It has been a meteoric rise for Bristol-born Johnson, who began officiating in his latter teens in the Bristol and Suburban and Gloucestershire County leagues before taking charge of Western League and Southern League fixtures, not to mention acting as assistant referee with the Conference National before being given an opportunity five seasons ago to referee in the English game's same fifth tier.