PENSIONER Harry Warburton could be spending his retirement relaxing – instead he has racked up his 3,650th game refereeing East Lancashire’s amateur footballers.

Harry, 78, has just clocked up his 49th season as a referee, and was presented with a long service award from the Football Association last month.

The former mechanic and welder, who was born in Haslingden and lives in Higher Cloughfold, Rossendale, said he has officiated in 3,650 games since he first picked up a whistle in 1963.

After falling in love with the game as a seven-year-old, when he was carried on his dad’s shoulders over Grane Road , to Ewood Park, to watch his beloved Blackburn Rovers , Harry played for Bacup Amateurs for two seasons.

It was only after team-mates complained about a lack of qualified referees that he became the man in the middle.

Harry said: “I approached Frank Manning, who was in charge of local refereeing in the 1960s, and said the lads weren’t happy playing without a ref.

“He told me, in no uncertain terms, to do it myself and that was that.”

Harry was appointed secretary of Rossendale Referees’ Association in 1979, and is still heavily involved in the Burnley and Lancashire associations.

He fondly recalls battles between Bacup St Mary’s and Stacksteads St Joseph’s, and remembers current AFC Bournemouth and ex-Clarets midfielder Marc Pugh coming up through the ranks.

He added: “Some of the young lads give me a hard time about my age, but the older ones are more respectful.

“They’ve grown up with me refereeing them.

“I’ve reffed three generations of some families.”

Harry doesn’t plan to put his yellow and red cards away just yet.

He’s still going to the gym twice a week as he aims to complete a 50th season beginning this month.