A former Football League linesman from High Wycombe has looked back on an officiating career that took him from local grassroots football to Wembley Stadium and some of the biggest grounds in the country. David Mitchem spent eight years running the line in the Football League between 1979 and 1986, officiating at matches involving clubs including Liverpool, Chelsea, Arsenal, Queens Park Rangers and West Ham United to name just a few. But his journey into football began by chance. Mr Mitchem, who previously lived in Holmer Green and Iver was a goalkeeper for his local side Drayton Wanderers when a deep cut on his knee injury ended his playing days. "A friend said, 'Why don't you try refereeing?'," he recalled. "I thought I'd give it a go and from that I qualified." His first match, in Uxbridge, ended in a remarkable 15-2 scoreline. "The dressing room had no light and no shower," he laughed. "That's where it all started." After progressing through local leagues and the Isthmian League, Mr Mitchem received an unexpected telephone call that helped launch his career. "I was at work when the secretary asked if I was doing anything that evening," he said. "He sent me to Wycombe Wanderers against Enfield. “It was in the early 1970s and there were about 11,000 people there. “Was I nervous? That's an understatement." The appointment paved the way for further promotions, eventually earning him a place on the Football League line. Over the next eight years, he travelled across England, officiating at grounds from Ipswich and Norwich to Bournemouth and London. "It was a smashing time," he said. "I met some fantastic people." Among his career highlights was serving as reserve linesman during England's international match against Spain at Wembley in front of 93,000 spectators. He also received a UEFA appointment in East Germany during the Cold War. "Of all the places I could go, I ended up going through Checkpoint Charlie into East Germany," he said. One of the most memorable figures he encountered was legendary Liverpool manager Bob Paisley. "What a gentleman he was," Mr Mitchem said. He also worked alongside some of British football's most famous referees, including Clive Thomas, George Courtney and the 1974 World Cup final official Jack Taylor. Not every experience was glamorous. He remembers inspecting players' boots before matches, dealing with hostile crowds and even being warned to "run like hell" after a fiery game at Millwall. Looking back, however, he has few regrets. "At the end of the day, I met so many nice people," he said. "I've got so many stories. I could write a book.