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Britain's oldest football referee William Hardy dies | Britain's oldest football referee William Hardy dies |
(about 5 hours later) | |
Britain's oldest football referee, who officiated matches until he was 88, has died. | Britain's oldest football referee, who officiated matches until he was 88, has died. |
William "Harry" Hardy started overseeing matches in 1959 but only retired in the 2015-16 season after a fall. He refereed more than 3,000 football matches. | |
The Erewash Valley Referee Society said he died on Wednesday - two days before his 92nd birthday. | The Erewash Valley Referee Society said he died on Wednesday - two days before his 92nd birthday. |
Mr Hardy's son, Chris, said he was "very proud of him". | Mr Hardy's son, Chris, said he was "very proud of him". |
Prince William, president of the Football Association, gave Mr Hardy a medal for services to football in 2013. | Prince William, president of the Football Association, gave Mr Hardy a medal for services to football in 2013. |
Mr Hardy, from Ilkeston in Derbyshire, received a British Empire Medal in the Queen's Birthday Honours the following year. | Mr Hardy, from Ilkeston in Derbyshire, received a British Empire Medal in the Queen's Birthday Honours the following year. |
'He just loved football' | 'He just loved football' |
His son said the father-of-two suffered a heart attack on Saturday and had deteriorated in the days that followed. | His son said the father-of-two suffered a heart attack on Saturday and had deteriorated in the days that followed. |
He added: "I'm very proud of him and so are all his six grandchildren. | He added: "I'm very proud of him and so are all his six grandchildren. |
"I used to get took [to matches] with him. [Before one game] there was two inches of snow and he'd say 'we're playing!' | "I used to get took [to matches] with him. [Before one game] there was two inches of snow and he'd say 'we're playing!' |
"He encouraged loads of people [to take up refereeing] and brought a lot through who have gone on to referee across the world." | "He encouraged loads of people [to take up refereeing] and brought a lot through who have gone on to referee across the world." |
Pete Carter, chairman of the Erewash Valley Referee Society, said: "In a nutshell he was a true gentleman and he couldn't do enough for anyone, especially young referees. | Pete Carter, chairman of the Erewash Valley Referee Society, said: "In a nutshell he was a true gentleman and he couldn't do enough for anyone, especially young referees. |
"He just loved football. The majority of his time was taken up with football and refereeing. | "He just loved football. The majority of his time was taken up with football and refereeing. |
"A lot of people don't know this about him but Harry was a very good footballer in his day. Unfortunately he packed it in after he broke his leg. | "A lot of people don't know this about him but Harry was a very good footballer in his day. Unfortunately he packed it in after he broke his leg. |
"When I first took over the role 20 years ago Harry helped me an enormous amount." | "When I first took over the role 20 years ago Harry helped me an enormous amount." |
Mr Hardy, who also had six great-grandchildren, joined Erewash Valley Referee Society in 1959 and from 1963 served in office as secretary for more than 55 years. | Mr Hardy, who also had six great-grandchildren, joined Erewash Valley Referee Society in 1959 and from 1963 served in office as secretary for more than 55 years. |
Follow BBC East Midlands on Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram. Send your story ideas to eastmidsnews@bbc.co.uk. | Follow BBC East Midlands on Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram. Send your story ideas to eastmidsnews@bbc.co.uk. |
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