Did you play Basketball when you were growing up?

Yes I did. In my teens I used to play with my friends in Iran but only 3v3 and just for fun! My favourite player was Magic Johnson and the LA Lakers!

Was Basketball popular in Iran at that time?

Basketball was not that popular then but now is getting more popular.

Can you tell me about your background and what led you to the South West?

I came to England in 1975 and went to Exeter, because I had a cousin who was living there. I applied for Collages in Taunton and was accepted by Somerset College of Arts and Technology so I moved to Taunton.

Did you play for a team in Taunton?

Yes I played for the College team and then I joined the local club, Taunton Community Basketball Club with people like Ronnie Heath, Dave Bullock and Richard Frost, which later became Taunton Tigers. I also managed the team for a few years.

When did you start officiating?

After snapping my Achilles tendon that finished my playing days! I decided to become a basketball official because I love the game. I was in my early forty’s when I started officiating.

Did you have anyone you considered a mentor?

Roy Parsloe was my mentor when I first started.

Was it just local competition at that stage?

We used to play in West of England Basketball League and Exeter Basketball League. I began refereeing in the National Basketball League in the mid 1990s and have done it every year since. I refereed over 20 games last season alone! Some years I have done more and some years less.

In the five seasons of records we currently have on the website, you have officiated in 99 fixtures! Just in Somerset Basketball! If you had to guess, how many games would you say you’ve done over your career?

If I had to guess it would be over a 1000 but possibly more!

You’ve been involved with the Somerset League since it began, what has your role been over the years?

Yes I was involved from the beginning but did not have any official role until in the last few years when I became the Referee's appointment officer. From early on I have helped plan and create the fixture lists and appoint referees for the games, along with Gary Carter and Francis Scarborough.

Refereeing can at times, be a thankless job and it’s not unusual to have decisions questioned in the heat of the moment. How do you deal with this?

I just try to remain calm and level headed, you have to realise that every decision you make will not please everyone.

What is it about officiating that you enjoy?

As a referee there are some games you don’t enjoy but on the whole and after so many years I do still enjoy it. It isn’t one particularly part I like about it but all of it!

Can you describe any memorable games or moments you can remember?

Years ago when Taunton were playing in WEBBA, I refereed one game in the handicap cup that started Taunton 0 and the other team 80. The point of the handicap is to let the lower division team have a chance against the higher division team.

At half time score was Taunton 82 and the other team 80! They did not score at all in the 1st half! Mind you Taunton where in the 1st Division and the other team where in the 4th.

That’s crazy! Were you tempted to make some calls in favour of the handicapped team?

We did not make up any calls, but we called everything against Taunton! They still won easily by the way.

What is the biggest game you’ve been involved in?

Last season I officiated a WBBL match for the first time. I think that is the biggest game I have done. It was between Cardiff Archers and Nottingham Wildcats. Nottingham won by nearly 50 points!

Referees can sometimes make mistakes in games as well as players. Do you have any memorable ones you've made as an official you'd like to air in public?

Mistakes, I don't make mistakes! Ha-ha of course, I have made a few in my time. Last season I was doing a Ladies National League Division 1 game in Bristol and I totally forgot which way the teams where going. I called an offensive foul that should have been defensive foul!

You've committed no small part of your life in service to the game of Basketball and had remarkable longevity as an official. What do you attribute this to?

I put the amount of time I have committed to the game down to having an understanding wife!

What advise would you give to someone starting out a career in officiating?

Be confident, be fair, be understanding.

That’s great advice. Thanks for taking the time to answer questions. On behalf of the Somerset Basketball community I’d like to say a huge thanks for all the work you put in helping with the league and your dedication as an official. Long may it continue!