FOOTBALL IS STILL KEITH'S CHURCH!

KEITH Hackett has enjoyed a lifelong love affair with football – with NonLeague very much at the forefront.

- Tony INCENZO

Hackett was one of the game’s top referees over two decades, presiding on a host of major fixtures including the 1981 FA Cup Final plus countless internationals on FIFA panel duties.

Now, as a sprightly octogenarian, the Sheffield whistler is relishing his current club president role at Penistone Church FC – a role he holds alongside similar position on the Northern Counties East League.

I’ve got to know Hackett extremely well through broadcasting together during the past year on TalkTV’s football coverage so I quizzed him on his involvement below the Football League.

“I started refereeing in 1960 after studying the Laws of the Game and passing an examination conducted by the Football Association,” the 80-year-old explained.

“Three years later, I was promoted to a Class 1 referee which enabled me to oversee any game in senior football. I subsequently moved up to the Northern Premier League.

“In the meantime, I was a salesman representing a garage door firm travelling around the Yorkshire region in my company car. However, I used every moment of spare time to train and referee games.

“In one of my early engagements, I was appointed to Northwich Victoria v Wigan Athletic. On route to the ground I suffered a car crash. Nevertheless after the repair garage pulled out a rather dented car bumper, I travelled on to fulfil the fixture.