WE’VE all heard of the Neville brothers and the Charlton brothers, but another footballing family is making a name for itself in south Essex.

Step forward the Irvine family – Mark, 48, his brother Neil, 40, and Mark’s two sons Aaron, 26 and Sam, 20 – who are all officials in grassroots football in the local area.

But, for the first time last Friday, the four made up the refereeing team at the Southend Sceptre League’s Design 4 Print Division Three final, between Leigh-based Allclaims and Southend side Grange Celtic Bhoys.

And it was a busy occasion for referee Mark, who had to send off the Grange Celtic Bhoys goalkeeper for a professional foul in the first half.

Despite the numerical disadvantage, Grange Celtic still managed to win the game 2-1.

“It was a special occasion,” said Mark, who has been refereeing for 12 years. “I have officiated with Aaron before but not with both my sons and Neil and it was a really good day for us all.”

Mark admitted he had seen a number of referees abused since he started in the middle, and he said you needed to have thick skin if you wanted to officiate.

“I enjoy what I do,” he said. “If we were fazed by people giving us stick we wouldn’t do it. In every 50 or so Olympian fixtures there are normally three or four referees that have been abused and we have to get on with it. We just report it to the relevant association and move on.”

Mark says Aaron has designs on progressing as a linesman, while Sam plays for White Ensign in Olympian Division One.

Brother Neil is a level-five referee and has also been plying his trade in the Olympian League this season.

The former Ekco Thames Park man stopped playing because of an injury ten years ago and took up refereeing.

And he says he is so glad he stayed in the game.

“I love it,” said Neil, who lives in Rochford. “I wanted to prolong my involvement in football so I thought I would give refereeing a go and I really enjoy it.

“I was fourth official at the weekend and it was a really good match. The two teams kept us on our toes as there was a red card and a scuffle in the tunnel as well, but we all enjoyed it.”

Neil, who currently manages Rochford-based Ashingdon Boys under-11s, was formerly the referees’ officer in the Sceptre League while Mark is handing over that title come the end of the season.

However, he ensured one of his last bits of business was deciding the officials for the cup final.

And Neil says he has a couple of years left in him in the middle before he thinks of hanging up his boots.

“You see some officials who are in their sixties these days and it is great to see.

“Now I hope I can carry on and get some more games under my belt.”