REFEREE Harry Warburton has clocked up 44 years and more than 3000 matches as the man in the middle but he has no intention of blowing the final whistle on his career just yet.

For Harry may be fast approaching his 73rd birthday but he has shown that if you are good enough, then you are young enough.

The popular figure is still actively involved in three local leagues and in the last season alone, he has officiated in more than 60 matches. His appetite for the game puts people half his age to shame and he still thinks he has a good few years left in him yet.

Harry is a self-confessed stickler to detail both in his appearance and his approach to the game.

"I always make sure my boots are clean and I have nice white laces," said Harry who started up as a referee when he was 28. "I've got about half a dozen pairs of laces and I rotate them to make sure I always have a clean pair in my boots."

Harry's pristine appearance was drilled in to him when he joined the Rossendale Referee Society and it is something he has continued ever since.

"The Society insisted that all of its referees were well presented and I have continued to practice what they preached all those years ago. I don't understand it why some players don't take pride in their appearance when they run out on to the pitch.

"Some of them have last week's mud still caked on their boots. Or even the week before."

And Harry's attention to detail is not just confined to his appearance but also to the laws of the game as well.

"I don't like back chat or personal abuse. If a player swears after making a mistake I might have a quiet word but if it is aimed at someone else then I won't tolerate it."

Harry thinks he has a good reputation and has built up a good relationship with players over the years.

"A lot of them call me Harry rather than ref when we are playing simply because I have got to know them over the years."

But while he may be on first name terms with many of the players he takes charge of, he definitely knows there is a line that shouldn't be crossed.

"I always follow the letter of the law and do everything by the book. I think I am fairly relaxed with the players but I am firm but fair."

Harry was an average defender when he hung up his boots in favour of whistle and notepad at the relatively young age of 28.

"In hindsight, I could have played on for a few more years," said Harry who played for Goodshaw Youth and David Whitehead's where he worked as a maintenance worker. "But there was a severe shortage of referees at the time so I decided to give it a go."

Harry attended the relevant training courses and progressed to a Class One official - the equivalent of Level Five in today's gradings.

He spent his fledgling career as a referee in the Bacup Amateur League but climbed as high as the Lancashire Amateur League where he ran the line for seven years.

He was also a key member of the Rossendale Referee Society between 1965 and 1998 where he filled the roles of secretary and delegate for the Lancashire Referees Society.

After the demise of the Bacup league, Harry concentrated his efforts on the East Lancashire League, the Harry Dewhurst Memorial League and the Burnley Sunday League - the three leagues he still referees on today.

He is also a paid up member of the Burnley Referees Association.

Whatever the league or the occasion, Harry has recorded every match for posterity. The record currently stands at 3350 matches with more than 300 trophies he has picked up for cup final appearances, long service awards and referee of the year accolades.

"It is nice to be honoured with awards from time to time because it means you must be impressing someone.

"My advice to anyone who wants to become a referee is to always give 100 per cent even though you are always going to be 50 per cent right!"