OUR URI HELPED TO RAISE THE BAR

AHEARTFELT tribute to the life of Uriah Rennie has been made by top refereeing colleague Keith Hackett.

- TONY INCENZO

Both of these former leading refs honed their trade in Sheffield grassroots football before ascending to the Northern Premier League and beyond.

Rennie sadly passed away last weekend at the age of 65. He will be remembered as the Premier League's first black referee, officiating more than 300 professional matches. Yet his humble upbringing on the muddy pitches of South Yorkshire was equally significant.

“I first met ‘Uri’ in parks football many years ago,” Hackett recalled. “We both lived in Sheffield so I would bump into him quite often.

“I saw a young black guy of striking presence. I recall watching one of Uri's games and thinking: ‘Crikey, what a fit referee!’.