A VETERAN referee has hung up his whistle... at the grand old age of 78.
Wally Gray took charge of his first match 42 years ago in 1969 after ending his playing career, and blew his whistle for the final time shortly before Christmas.
He said: “It’s been wonderful, I wish I could go back and start it again. I thought ‘I’m 78, what on earth am I doing here standing in the rain’! I’m still running them off the pitch though. Many players still have the beer from the night before in them - they just want a game, which is wonderful.”
Mr Gray, from Ffordd Anwyl, Rhyl, a firefighter for 30 years, became a well known figure in the local football leagues, and began his career after being recommended for the role by another official.
He said: “There was a chap called Pat Evans who played in the English League and ran the line in Liverpool, and when I packed in the football he said I should pick up the whistle.
“You used to be picked out. If you played the game, you understood it - it’s not like that now.”
Having taken charge of hundreds of games in his time as an official, Mr Gray said that he still loved watching the game, and had many fond memories from his refereeing days, including officiating Premier League stars Wayne Rooney and Michael Owen during their schoolboy days.
“They stood out - the best ones always do.” he recalled.
“There’s nothing I enjoy more than 12-13 year olds on a Saturday morning playing their guts out - there’s no fouls, no swearing, just kids having fun."
Despite his retirement, the tradition of refereeing is set to continue in the Gray family with his son, Glen, and grandsons, Michael and Liam, following in his footsteps.
“I taught them. My son and I ran a course for 12 or 13 years, and they came and passed the exams. Michael will go far, he’s very good, whilst Liam is a managers nightmare, he’ll send someone off for giving him a dirty look!” he said.
Ron Bridges, general secretary of the Welsh Alliance league, thanked Mr Gray for his years of service to the North Wales football community.
“On behalf of all leagues and clubs in North Wales I would like to thank Wally Gray for this help and support."