DEAL referee Nick Dunn has received a special award from the Kent Referees Association.

The 19-year-old offical won the David Long Trophy which goes to the referee who received the highest Promotion

Assessment marks across the county.

Nick, who lives in Arthur Road, received his trophy from the president of the Kent Referees Association, John Fenning, during a presentation evening at Aylesford.

Nick qualified as a referee in 2005 and started officiating almost immediately on the Deal & District League.

John Burton, training and recruitment officer for the Deal branch of the Referees Association, said: “Nick was trained at Canterbury, but as a local lad and fully paid up member of our small branch we clai him as one of ours and we are all proud of what he has achieved so far in his career.”