A former Carlisle United player is on track to be one of the first ex-professional footballers to become a referee.

Chris Birchall, who played for the Blues in the 2008/09 season, has accepted a three-year contract with Professional Game Match Officials Limited (PGMOL) to embark on a fast-track pathway to refereeing.

The 40-year-old former midfielder said he was "excited" at the opportunity to become a match official.

His progress follows an initiative by PGMOL, who teamed up with the Professional Footballers’ Association (PFA) in June to identify ten to 12 current or former players to enrol on a three-year scholarship programme.

Birchall said on X: “I am over the moon to accept a 3yr contract offer from the PGMOL to become one of the first ex players to transition into professional refereeing!

“Huge thanks to the PFA and the Premier League along with PGMOL for this opportunity.”

Birchall also referenced former Manchester United defender Gary Neville, now a TV pundit, adding: “@GNev2 don’t be sceptical, be very excited!”

When announcing the programme in the summer, PGMOL chief refereeing officer Howard Webb said: “We’ve made no secret that we are looking to broaden our pool of officials and entice people from other areas of the game and society into refereeing who may have historically not been well represented.

“We aim to create the best possible environment to support and encourage current and former players to enhance their skills, knowledge and, ultimately, their qualities as match officials through this programme.”

Birchall's brief stint with United came during Greg Abbott's early period in charge of the Blues in League One.

The Trinidad & Tobago international joined on loan from Coventry City in November 2008.

He made his debut as a substitute in a 1-1 draw at Swindon Town the following month, before also coming off the bench in the 3-0 home win over Huddersfield Town on Boxing Day.

That, though, proved his last United outing as Birchall then moved on to Brighton & Hove Albion.

He also played for Port Vale and St Mirren, as well as in the USA with LA Galaxy and Columbus Crew, playing alongside David Beckham in Los Angeles.

He played in the 2006 World Cup with Trinidad & Tobago, qualifying through his mother, who was born in Port of Spain.

After embarking on the programme, Birchall said on PGMOL’s X site in September: “I’ve been lucky enough to travel the world and play and experience different cultures and now it’s hopefully another chapter.

“I’d done my refereeing course probably two months before this opportunity came, so it was something I wanted to get into anyway.

“I’d always expressed there should be more ex-players coming forward to try and be referees and I was asked the question numerous times, why was that not the case?

“I couldn’t really answer it and I wanted to experience it myself and then fortunately this opportunity came up.”

Main reporting: PA