THE Craven Herald and the Craven FA are joining forces to set up a new sportsmanship trophy next season to help combat growing indiscipline and the refereeing shortage in local football.

A £200 cash prize and trophy will be presented to the team that referees judge, over the course of the season, to be the best behaved both on and off the pitch, with £50 going to the runners-up.

The initiative has been launched in view of the mounting refereeing shortage which is putting the long-term future of the Craven League in jeopardy.

It is hoped the competition will encourage more referees onto the field following recent concerns by senior club officials over falling numbers.

Starting from next season, at the end of each game, the referee will be asked to give each team a mark based on its level of sportsmanship, taking into account the behaviour of both players and spectators.

Teams that have played without the presence of a qualified referee will not qualify, so the point score will be assessed on an average basis.

Teams who are affiliated with the Craven FA, but who are not part of the Craven League, will still be entered for the competition, but a minimum of five games must be played in order to qualify.

Where clubs have more than one team, both first and reserve teams will be entered in their own right.

To encourage referees to submit their marks, the Herald will also run a referee of the year award, based on how they have been marked by sides over the season.