FOOTBALL
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COME October 10, Highlands referee James Tesoriero will get his chance to shine on the big stage.
After four seasons referring the National Youth League, James has finally been given the go ahead to step up to the A-League.
He will be an assistant referee and said he was extremely excited to have been given the opportunity.
James has been in training since June.
What started as two nights a week has become four nights a week with pre-season matches about to kick off.
When the season starts in October, James said the referees would continue training four nights a week.
It has already been a busy year for James, refereeing soccer in the Highlands and running the line in the newly introduced FFA Cup.
"I've had the last four rounds and everyone else has had three," he said.
"I'm extremely excited."
But before the A-League kicks off, there's still plenty in store for James.
This weekend he will referee the under-19 national schools competition.
He was the only referee from NSW to be chosen for the event.
"It's pretty good to be selected for that," he said.
Then on September 3 James will fly out to Italy to take part in an exchange program organised through the State League.
He will be over there for two weeks and will referee three division five matches.
"I've never been there (Italy) to watch it and they've got a very different style. We've got to try and train in our style of refereeing," he said.
"It's definitely going to be a difficult thing to adjust to. I've been warned players here are a lot more tame than over there. I have to be on my game and be ready for anything."
While he may be an assistant referee for the A-League, James said he could still referee the centre in matches held in NSW.
He may have moved on to bigger and better things but James said he still hoped to return to the Highlands and help out whenever he could.
"I can have some fun with the guys. I turn up and everyone knows me. The pressure's not there and I don't have cameras watching me. I definitely enjoy coming back to the Highlands and helping out."