For the start of a new season, now just two weeks away, Howard Webb won't be kicking off with the rest.

The World Cup final referee is to take a well-earned break from refereeing duties before resuming his Premier League career, possibly in early September.

The greatest season of his life saw appointments to the end of May, including a Championship play-off semi between Leicester and Cardiff before the Champions League Final in Madrid.

Then, of course, it was off to the World Cup Finals and was in South Africa for six weeks in all during which time he worked every day with just the odd day off.

Naturally, his "close season" now begins including necessary time for a family holiday at some stage before looking to go again.

"I'll be ready to get back, in fact, I'm already quite hungry to do so," he says.

"I'll still have my passion for refereeing, a passion for football but people say what's left having reached the pinnacle of individual appointments, World Cup Final, Champions League, FA Cup Final, Carling Cup Final etc.

"Well, the thing is I earn my living refereeing Premier League and Champions League football and it's not a bad job really and not a bad way to earn a living for someone who loves football.

"I shall look forward to being out there again.

"Maybe it will allow me to enjoy it even more now that major individual goals have been achieved.

"Perhaps it will increase the pressure a bit but I've not got to prove anything. I shall look forward to that good buzz you get when you've had a good game."

Always a passionate supporter of referees and refereeing throughout his career, Webb's achievements will be a massive boost to the refereeing recruitment drive, not least in this region with a particular boost for Rotherham Referees Association where it all began for Howard just over 20 years ago and with whom he was assistant secretary when he was in his early 20s.

Ex-Premier league ref Mike Riley also started out in Rotherham. He is now head of refereeing at the Professional Game Match Officials Board.