David Bathurst, Britain’s premier referee for a number of years, has announced his retirement. He took charge of farewell National League Division One games at Lancaster and will pack away his whistle for the last time later this year after fulfilling a couple of local league appointments in his native Midlands.

However, it’s good to hear that David won’t be lost to the game altogether.

He remains treasurer of the International Referees’ Association, chairman of the ASA Water Polo Officials’ Committee and will continue to serve on a high-ranking FINA committee charged with the complex task of refining and improving the sport’s rules. He has also promised to assist by evaluating referees in this country.

David started out as a soccer referee in the 1960s. However, he used to help operate the water polo scoreboard with friends at the Walsall pool and (although still involved in football these days as Walsall’s announcer) soon got himself heavily involved in a far more sensible sport!

He refereed at the Barcelona Olympics and rates that, plus his appointment to referee the World Student Games final in Sheffield, among the highlights of an outstanding international career.