Rotherham's Howard Webb has been appointed as the referee for Sunday's World Cup Final.

He is the first Englishman to get the honour since Jack Taylor took charge of the 1974 clash between West Germany and the Netherlands.

The 38-year-old began his career in the Northern Counties East League and we are thrilled that he is in the middle for the match in Johannesburg between Spain and the Netherlands.

Howard began his career as an Assistant Referee, then known as a Linesman, on the Northern Counties East League in 1993, following in the footsteps of his father Billy Webb who was a referee on the League.

Throughout his rise up the refereeing ladder, Howard has never lost sight of his roots and frequently acknowledges the Northern Counties East League as the place he learnt his trade and thanks Ron Skidmore, the League Assessors Secretary in particular, for all the help and guidance during his early years.

Indeed the League has a rich history of refereeing development throughout its years and the numbers that have progressed to the National and International Lists of match officials far exceeds any other comparable league in the country and Howard's appointment is the icing on the cake, so to speak, and fully illustrates the quality of the Assessment Scheme of the League.

The League Chairman David Morrall, himself a former Premier League match official, commented: "Everyone at the NCE League are delighted at Howard's appointment and send our sincere congratulations to Howard and his two Assistants Darren Cann and Mike Mullarkey and hope the ball runs kindly for them in the biggest game of their lives.

"Of course, the appointment reflects enormously on the competition and I personally look forward to honouring Howard on his achievement at next season's Dinner when we can formally record our utmost congratulations on him achieving the highest possible honour.

"And, of course, ensuring he commits to helping with the education and training of our current match officials!"