However, the 36-year-old ref said he had quickly reconsidered and was determined not to let this incident ruin the hard work he and others had invested in his on-field career.

Terry told the Evening Telegraph that the game involving the Elmwood and North End junior teams had been largely uncontroversial. Although unsure of the precise reason for the incident, he believes it may have had something to do with the five minutes of injury time tagged on to the end of the match.

He said both teams were informed of the injury time and neither appeared to have any problem with it. However, Elmwood, who were 1-0 down, equalised in the fifth minute of the extra period.

He said, “I blew the final whistle and went over to pick the ball up. As I rose up, I was struck in the face and knocked unconscious.

“I didn’t see who did it and I don’t know if it was a punch, a kick or a knee. I don’t know how long I was out for, but when I came round I was being treated by the Elmwood physio.

“I was taken to Ninewells Hospital, where they confirmed I’d suffered concussion. I also had to get three stitches in my bottom lip and I’ll have to get my teeth checked once the swelling has gone down.

“It was a cowardly thing to do and I wasn’t even looking at the person when he struck me.

“I wasn’t myself last night and if you’d asked me then whether I would be packing it in, I would have said definitely. I only thought of that briefly, though, and I won’t let this put me off refereeing.

“I have put in a lot of hard work and have been helped tremendously by the support network we have and, if anything, I’m more determined than ever now.”

Terry, who said he had never been involved in anything like this in his seven years as a referee, has reported the incident to the junior league disciplinary secretary and says any investigation is now up to the league.

As a class one referee, however, he will also have to submit a report to the Scottish Football Association. Tayside Police are also investigating the incident and say their inquiries are continuing.

Whatever the outcome, Terry says he has surpassed his ambitions by getting to his present level in the game and is prepared to leave it to the “powers that be” to decide if he has what it takes to referee a Scottish Premier League game.

He added, “I’m doing a job that is supposed to be a hobby and it’s thoroughly enjoyable, otherwise I wouldn’t be doing it.

“The rewards are there for anyone who puts in the time, effort and commitment. I’ve refereed SPL reserve games where there have been first team players on the park and it’s been a joy doing something like that.

“At the end of the day, though, it’s supposed to be a sport and there’s no room for the kind of thing that happened to me.”

East of Scotland Juniors general secretary Jock Myles said an inquiry would be set up. He said, “I can confirm that an incident took place at the conclusion of the Elmwood and Dundee North End match at Craigie Park.

“This resulted in the police being called. Once we have all the facts and the ref’s report, an investigation will take place.”

Tayside Police are appealing for witnesses and urge anyone who was at the match and saw what happened to contact them on Dundee 223220.