Referee who was head butted launches helpline for officials

He has been punched, head-butted and spat on - all while refereeing football matches.

But now 18-year-old Ryan Hampson is helping to launch a helpline to support others in the same position.

"When it happened I felt lonely, isolated, scared. It's not something I want to happen to anyone else," Ryan tells Newsbeat.

He's calling for football to follow in rugby union's footsteps and equip referees with body cameras.

"I started refereeing when I was about 14. [It] started with junior and kids football and when I was 16, I went to open age football. I got assaulted a few months after that."

Ryan led a nationwide strike of referees earlier this year after being attacked during a game.

More than 2,000 officials put down their whistles in March.

"It's not a nice thing to happen. I just felt like I had no one to turn to - to speak to," Ryan says.

His ordeal led to him stepping up efforts to help others in a similar position.

He's been working with the charity Ref Support UK and together they're launching a hotline where officials can report abuse.

Ref Support UK say the first national independent helpline for referees who have been assaulted will be launched on Saturday.

"I remember when [it happened] I was sat in the changing room, my head in my hands and I thought, 'What the hell do I do?' I wish I had this hotline to speak to someone when it happened.

"Just to be able to take five minutes out and compose myself and calm down."

The hotline will be manned by former referees who will give advice on what to do next.

"You get told to ring the police," explains Ryan.

"I didn't do that myself because I live in a council estate. I live in an area were you're taught not to ring the police - it's not something you do.

"The players I referee live in my local area and it's not something you want to comeback on yourself. It's sad it's come to this but it needs to happen for now until we get body cams."

Rugby referees regularly wear a microphone and body cameras during games

Ryan says he's been in conversation with the FA to bring in body cameras.

He feels it's the only way to keep amateur officials safe.

"With body cams people will be bang to rights - the evidence is there."