CHRIS BIRCHALL never made it to the Premier League as a player – but is eager to get there in retirement.
The former LA Galaxy midfielder played alongside David Beckham during his MLS days.
And now he is retraining as a referee, all thanks to a special PGMOL initiative for former pros.
Birchall is part of the ‘Player to Match Official’ programme, a joint venture between the PGMOL and the Players Association.
The scheme aims to fast-track ex-players into officiating over a three-year period.
Birchall, who played most of his club football for Port Vale, hung up his boots in 2017.
Now 40, he believes the scheme is vital to bring through the next generation of referees.
Birchall told Sky Sports: “If you were a professional who finished at 32, 33, there wouldn’t be an opportunity because you’d be 45 before you had the chance.
“This is why this programme is so exciting because it opens doors to ex-players to come through into the game and use their experience to not be better referees.
“But to try and be as good as they individually can, because there are some exceptional referees coming through who haven’t played the game.
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“A lot of people say this is what the game’s been crying out for, but you don’t want to be the person to say ‘ex-players are going to become better refs’.
“It’s just another string to the bow of officiating.”
[bc_video account_id=”5067014667001″ application_id=”” aspect_ratio=”16:9″ autoplay=”” caption=”Former LA Galaxy star Birchall goes from playing with Beckham to being a referee” embed=”in-page” experience_id=”” height=”100%” language_detection=”” max_height=”360px” max_width=”640px” min_width=”0px” mute=”” padding_top=”56%” picture_in_picture=”” player_id=”default” playlist_id=”” playsinline=”” sizing=”responsive” video_id=”6352129006112″ video_ids=”” width=”640px”]Ex-pros including Coventry winger Carl Baker and Milwall midfielder Liam Trotter are also enrolled in the course.
And Birchall has big ambitions – with a spot in the Premier League within his sights.
He continued: “Sometimes, someone will ask you a question like, ‘Where do you want to be in three years?’
“I want to be in the Premier League. I don’t want to come across as arrogant, but the opportunity is there to be in the Premier League.
“So, my goal within that three to four years is to be officiating in the Premier League.”
Birchall spent much of his early career in England’s lower leagues, playing for Vale, Coventry and Brighton.
His world was turned upside down in 2009 when he joined the Galaxy in Los Angeles, replacing Beckham on his debut.
Speaking to SunSport last year, Birchall said: “David was great with me.
“Although I played with him towards the end of his career, wow what a player.
“He could pick you out with a pass from 40 yards.
“There was banter between us as English guys.
“He’d come into training every morning and say to me, ‘Hi, Mr Perfect’ and I was like, ‘If anyone should be called that it’s you!’”
Before playing with David Beckham, Birchall played against him on the biggest stage of all.
Though born in Stafford, he was called up by Trinidad and Tobago by virtue of his mum being born in the country’s capital Port of Spain.
Playing with Man Utd legend Dwight Yorke, Birchall would score one of the most famous goals in the country’s history as he scored a long range equaliser in a home play-off against Bahrain.
The Soca Warriors would then win 1-0 in the Middle East to earn a spot at the 2006 World Cup.
And there, while playing club football for Port Vale, he took on Becks and England’s Golden Generation.
There, the Caribbean Islanders stubbornly held the Three Lions to a goalless stalemate until the 83rd minute where Peter Crouch netted a controversial opening goal.
The England striker was seen pulling on defender Brent Sancho’s dreadlocks to head home before Steven Gerrard netted a second in stoppage time.