THE local football world has been saddened by the death of popular referee, Neville Ashley.

The former Football League official died last Friday two weeks after he was released from hospital. He suffered a heart attack three months ago, forcing him to have a triple by-pass operation.

Mr Ashley, who had lived in Nantwich, began officiating for the Football League in 1971. He was a linesman for over two years before joining the full list of referees in 1974.

He continued for 13 years before retiring from the league in 1987. The highlight of his refereeing career came in 1982 when he took charge of the Charity Shield match between Liverpool and Tottenham at Wembley.

Mr Ashley was a former president of the association of referees from 1985 to 1986 and a former chairman of North West and North Wales referees.

He had also been very involved in local football and was a past secretary of Crewe Regional League.

for a number of years.

Until his retirement around three years ago, Mr Ashley had worked as a buyer for the Welcome Foundation.

A fellow referee told The GUARDIAN that he was "a super man who had always kept himself very fit" and an "excellent referee".

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