Football: Ref Hilditch hangs up his whistle

By charper

REFEREE John Hilditch calls full time on a distinguished career at the weekend and admits: "I won't be sad".

The colourful character, from Weston Coyney, feels the time is right to hang up his whistle – but stresses his decision has nothing to do with being diagnosed as having Parkinson's Disease.

Hilditch has spent 40 years in the middle, rising from local leagues to the Football Conference, and while his biggest disappointment was in not making it to the Football League as a referee, he has been compensated.

Hilditch, pictured, spent two years on the FIFA list of linesmen, being involved in European games and the FA Cup final of 1992 between Liverpool and Sunderland at Wembley.

He said: "That is what dreams are made of. I think I would have been a journeyman referee in the Football League and would never have refereed the cup final.

"But I spent 11 years on the national list of linesmen (before they became referee's assistants) and went to Wembley five times."

Hilditch, who is also proud to have refereed a Sentinel Cup final, has been no stranger to controversy and has never shied away from voicing his opinion.

He came on as a substitute referee at Old Trafford in a match between Manchester United and Sheffield Wednesday and boldly awarded a penalty against home side.

But he allowed seven minutes of added time, in which Steve Bruce scored twice to win the game for United.

Hilditch reckons man-management, a sense of humour and a thick skin have enabled him to survive the toughest job in football.

"The first six months were the worst," said Hilditch, who started out as a rookie 20-year-old. "Once I had got over that initial period, I never thought about packing it in. But what makes refereeing so hard these days is you cannot get through to players.

"Money plays a big part at the top level, but elsewhere the behaviour of players mirrors society in that there is no respect for authority."

Hilditch does not hide from his illness either. In fact, he encourages talk about Parkinson's Disease.

He said: "It had been coming on for years. I first had a tremble in my right hand, which I put down to tension, but then my wife noticed I was slowing up.

"I went to a consultant and was diagnosed last July, but I have been positive over it. Physical exercise is good for me so I go to the gym two or three times a week and am into spinning."

Hilditch has been assessing referees and says he has also been honoured to be chairman of the North Staffs Referees' Club for two years – a role he will give up at the end of this season.

He has had a long association with the Potteries and District Sunday League, so it is fitting his last game this weekend is the Peter Bott Memorial match between champions Hanley Town and Sneyd at Norton (11am). All money raised will go to the North Staffs Diabetic Society.

Premier League referee Phil Dowd, from Biddulph, said: "John is a gent and has always been willing to help.

"He gave me advice on my way up the ladder and it has been a pleasure to know him over the years. He is approachable and will talk to anyone."

As for the man himself, Hilditch said: "I am 60, so it is not a bad age to call it a day."