Haverfordwest-based football referee Rob Blowes (23) has shrugged off a severe hearing problem by being promoted to a class six referee.
This upgrade enables Rob Blowes to officiate in any game throughout West Wales, despite having a severe hearing impairment.
He has been officiating for just four years after taking a Football Association of Wales training course which was tutored by another Pembrokeshire referee, Pedr McMullen.
As is the case with officials in a wide range of sports, Rob Blowes decided to take up the whistle as "I was not quite good enough to make it as a player and considered that the next best thing was to become a referee."
When did the refereeing bug first strike?
Rob answered:"I became interested at the age of 16 when living in London, but it was not until three years later when the family moved to Pembrokeshire that I started learning the ropes in earnest.
"Apart from attending the training course, I have had lots of help from people such as former referee Eddie Oliver, who was a big influence, together with other local referees such as my uncle Alun Wills, Jon Bicknell and Jonathan Twigg, the secretary of the Pembrokeshire Referees' Society."
As with many people with any form of disability, Rob Blowes makes light of his hearing impairment and says that he is often the envy of other referees as he does not hear the criticism from players or supporters!
Officialdom must run in the Blowes family blood, as Rob's father Steve is a regular umpire on the Pembrokeshire cricket circuit in Pembrokeshire league and cup matches.
What happens when he has to speak to players?
Realistically Rob said: "I have to rely on lip reading which can often be difficult with someone a deaf person has only just met, but it seems to work without any problems.
"I am most grateful for the assistance received from my colleagues in the Pembrokeshire Referees' Society and I have also had the privilege of meeting Andrew Rodda, of Plymouth, a hearing impaired referee who operates as an assistant in the Football League.
"Mr. Rodda invited me to go along with him when he was officiating in a Swansea City game at the Liberty Stadium.
"The advice and information from Andrew Rodda combined with the expert tutelage that I have received and the experience of officiating in West Wales has enabled the initial seasons to progress quite smoothly."
What are Rob's ambitions for the future?
"In the short term I hope to get established in the Welsh League with the aim of being able to officiate in Welsh football at Welsh Premier League level by 2010."