Dennis Strudwick, general manager of the Blue Square Premier, North and South Leagues says he has already noticed a positive change in behaviour of players and managers towards officials at this level.

Mansfield Town currently sit in third position in the Blue Square Premier division after a decent start to the season, and Strudwick says the campaign is something which clubs in all three leagues have backed.

"It's a step in the right direction," he says. "Something had to be done, we should have greater respect for officials and the Conference has bought heavily into it."

The FA launched the scheme in the summer to try improve behaviour of participants at all levels of football. Amongst its top priorities was to tackle abuse towards match officials.

Despite some criticism of the campaign from top levels of the game, Strudwick says the early signs in Non-League competition are good: "We have seen an improvement in behaviour in the technical area after we addressed all chairmen and managers."

"We have never condoned this mass confrontation of referees, We expect managers and captains to go to the referees room before the game, then we have the handshakes before matches. These have proved to be good introductions which we all value," he said.

Although the campaign has enjoyed initial success further down the football ladder, Strudwick says that the ultimate responsibility lies with players and officials at the top of the game.

"Players do copy what they see at the top level and I think the same applies to referees," he admits. " That's why I am particularly pleased that the campaign has been pitched at the top level. Maybe in five years we'll look back and think how much better the game has got."

Stags boss Billy McEwan has already warned his squad he will come down heavily on them for unneccessary yellow or red cards.