Last updated 11:35, Monday, 12 May 2008

REIVER has a sober warning for young bloods who play for West Cumbrian football clubs Cleator Moor Celtic, Whitehaven Amateurs and Windscale.

No snogging: Scott Carson

You may love your football, but never try mixing love AND football.

For when it comes to referees in the Wearside League, where these Cumbrian clubs compete, the age of romance never even started.

When Brett Wilson, 22-year-old goalkeeper with Harton and Westoe, spotted his girlfriend on the touchline, he could not resist galloping over during an injury break and planting a smacker on her lips.

But referee Geoff Liddle was not amused and he promptly booked the goalie – for leaving the pitch without permission.

It seems that Wilson fell foul of Law 12 of the rules of Association Football which relate to leaving and rejoining the game.

It proved an expensive kiss because Wilson has been fined £8 for his indiscretion, although his sympathetic club is apparently forking out on his behalf.

If any other players in this league, including those who turn out for the trio of West Cumbrian clubs, spot a kissable young lady on the sidelines they had better think again, particularly if Mr Liddle is officiating.

Football managers are always banging on about passion in the game. Obviously they don’t mean the sort of passion displayed by Brett Wilson towards his young lady.

Fortunately, England goalkeeper Scott Carson managed to keep his feelings to himself while starting his career at Cleator Moor Celtic. How different might Carson’s career have been if he had fallen foul of the no snogging rule?