A POPULAR young referee from Pembrokeshire will take charge of the West Wales Intermediate Cup final that will take place at the Liberty Stadium.

Kevin Bowen, 32, has been appointed to referee the final between Seaside and Penlan that would have taken place on Tuesday night.

Remarkably Bowen has only been a referee for four years, and he is delighted to be awarded this prestigious match.

“West Wales Football Referees’ officer David Rees telephoned me with the good news,” said Bowen. “I really wasn’t expecting the call, but once he told me I was delighted to be chosen.”

The level five referee is relishing the prospect of taking charge at the Premier League ground, home of Swansea City.

“I’m buzzing. I can’t wait. I thought I’d be nervous, but at the moment I’m just feeling really excited to be part of this big occasion.”

The biggest game that Bowen has been previously involved during his short career was when he was a referee in the Pembrokeshire Football League Division Three Cup final and he was also an assistant in the Senior Cup Final where Tenby beat Merlins Bridge 2-0 a few weeks ago. He has also been in charge of FAW Trophy cup ties this season.

After being assessed every season Bowen has improved his grade, he started on level eight and it is his intentions to regularly referee in the Welsh League or Welsh Premier in the future. The levels goes down to one, and then there is international standard below that, where ambitious referees can take charge of games controlled by UEFA.

“I wish I’d started earlier, I only took up the whistle because I was picking up so many injuries while I was playing.

“I really enjoy refereeing and I want to climb up the ladder as far as it will take me,” he added.

Bowen will be joined by fellow Pembrokeshire referee Dean Boswell who will be his assistant at the Liberty Stadium.