Please Sir call for Linesman

Out of the crowd and on to the park - "My name is Joe Moore, M-o-o-r-e,

The mystery of the linesman who stepped in to ensure that the match against Airdrie could resume following Referee Anthony Law's third minute injury was quickly solved when the stand in spoke to the media after the game. Treatment from Pars physio Gerry Docherty could do nothing to prevent a calf strain putting an end to the referee's afternoon.

With no fourth official at First Division league matches a plea was announced over the public address system for a volunteer who was registered with the SFA to come forward to run the line. Three volunteers presented themselves and the one from the North West was chosen.

Before leaving East End Park the stand in was coaxed into revealing his identity and he seemed to enjoy talking to the media almost as much as he had enjoyed featuring during the game:-

"My name is Joe Moore, M-o-o-r-e, like Bobby and Roger! I am from Edinburgh and that was a bit of an experience for me. I am 24 and normally referee doing kids games, juvenile games on Saturdays and Sundays. I have run the line in the Junior leagues before but I enjoy watching football as well and that was why I watch and just referee juveniles instead of trying to push on. It was nice to get a mix in front of a big crowd as well."

Had there been any hesitation in Joe's mind when the announcement was made?

"I was out my seat before anyone else was. My mate next to me was saying 'where are you going?'. Suddenly he sees where I was going and I got a text when I was in there saying 'go on my son'.

"It was exciting and it was a dream of mine. First of all my dream was always to walk on East End Park and that happened on my 21st birthday when I was invited down here in front of 12,000 people against Rangers. Then this just topped it. Running in front of the North West Stand where I have sat for 15 years, well and stood, is a dream come true."

Not many fans can thank delays on the Forth Road Bridge while on their way to games but a crash meant that Joe did not get to Legends in time for his usual pre match refreshment. That worked out well when it came to taking on the responsibility. "Lucky for the SFL that I didn't!"

Joe is a geography teacher in Midlothian and that might have prepared him for the comments that emanated from the stand behind him.

"It was quite nice, it wasn't the usual pelters that I would normally give. It was more encouragement. It was quite good when I gave an offside against Dunfermline that I didn't get a torrent of abuse but just a gentle boo. Quite interesting.

"The players were spot on with most of them chatting away trying to encourage me so fair play to them"

Joe joked when asked if he got a refund on his admission fee saying that a "pie on Wednesday" would be nice.