A YOUTH football team is starring alongside Hollywood hardman Ray Winstone in a new TV advert at the centre of a national campaign aimed at promoting respect for referees.

Ongar Juniors FC under-10 side and their parents staged a match in front of the cameras at their ground in Love Lane, Ongar, while the award-winning actor played the roles of both an over-enthusiastic dad and an East End gangster who pulls him into line.

The two-minute clip has already had airtime during ad breaks and has featured on Sky TV's cult Soccer AM programme.

It sees a shell-suit clad Winstone yelling abuse at the referee from the touchline, calling him a "clown" and bellowing, "my woman could referee this game better than you".

He also storms on to the pitch in the middle of the game to scream at his son: "What's the matter with you?"

The footage then cuts to another ominous character played by Winstone in a dark suit, who explains, "here's a dad trying to live out his dreams through his son."

He says this type of behaviour is happening every weekend, and warns it will lead to a shortage of referees and players.

Steve Carpenter, Ongar Junior FC's club secretary, said: "We were called out of the blue and asked to take part.

"We were picked because we were so close to Winstone's home in Roydon, and they wanted to keep it all very secret.

"The camera crew came and set up their equipment at about 9am and they were her until late in the afternoon.

"Some of the kids had to get the day off school, some of the dads got the day off work, and we had about six mums there.

"There were some child actors there as well to take the brunt of Mr Winstone's rant in the ad, because he really is quite intimidating.

"He was so apologetic when the cameras stopped rolling and it was a great experience for our lads to meet such a famous celebrity."

Mr Carpenter, 59, who has also been a qualified referee for ten years, added: "It makes me cringe, but this sort of stuff really does go on all the time.

"The problem is some parents put winning before everything else, and that tends to ruin it for everyone."

To see the ad, visit thefa.com/respect.