REFEREE, 82, ISN’T READY TO HANG UP HIS BOOTS YET
“I used to travel abroad but as I had a fear of flying since childhood, I always travelled by road and boat on the official supporters’ bus, but after what happened at Heysel, I decided I would never travel abroad again
BRIAN PURCELL
AN 82-YEAR-OLD football referee is maintaining a strict fitness regime in the hope of starting his 49th season in the middle of the pitch. Brian Purcell has assumed “living legend” status in Deeside after officiating in more games than he cares to remember.
Every morning he pounds the Quay 3G pitch, home to the Connah’s Quay Nomads, and on Thursdays he puts himself through a strenuous gym session.
“Hopefully I’ll be fit enough to referee again next season,” said Brian. “The day I can’t keep up with play, to give a correct decision, is the day I’ll stop refereeing.”
On Tuesday night he oversaw an end-of-season U12s game in Mold, leaving him free to focus on his other football love. As chair of the Deeside Liverpool FC supporters club, he was cheering on the Reds in their quest for a cup treble in the Champions League final against Real Madrid in Paris yesterday.
Despite missing just two home games in 55 years – one for a wedding, the other for wife Doreen’s 80th birthday – he has no interest in travelling abroad since witnessing at first hand the 1985 Heysel Stadium tragedy in Belgium. Some 39 fans were killed, mostly Juventus supporters, and all English football clubs were banned from European football for four years (five for Liverpool FC).
“I used to travel abroad but as I had a fear of flying since childhood, I always travelled by road and boat on the official supporters’ bus,” he said. “But after what happened at Heysel, I decided I would never travel abroad again.”
He would again experience tragedy after organising the supporters’ bus to Hillsborough in 1989 when 97 Liverpool fans died. Among the victims was Ysgol Treffynnon sixth-form student John McBrien. To honour his memory, Brian later set up an annual five-a-side tournament and has refereed it ever since.
This week, to mark his distinguished career, friend Les Mellor presented Brian with a framed photograph of three officials preparing for a Sunday League cup final in the early 1980s. On that occasion Brian was a linesman, having progressed up the refereeing ranks from unlikely beginnings.
He was working in a yard gang at the old Courtaulds rayon factory in Flint when he popped out to watch an inter-departmental game. “The referee didn’t turn up,” he recalled. “As I played a bit at the time, I was handed the whistle. In muddy trainers it was a case of two steps forwards, one step backwards, but I got through it and was later asked back to referee a few more games.”
He preferred playing but while working at the former British Steel plant in Shotton, he suffered a works accident, damaging his knee. “I was in my 30s and I knew that once I recovered, I’d never be able to play football again,” he said. “So I looked to refereeing as a way of staying in the game.”
He took his Class A referee badges at Deeside Leisure Centre. The Deeside Sunday Football League was still relatively new and the North Wales Coastal FA required its referees to be properly qualified.
He’s also officiated, and coached, multiple age groups. Former players remember him with affection. On Facebook, one said: “Brilliant man. Used to get some stick refereeing but always came back with a great big smile!”
Others were grudging in their praise. “Great man, great ref and a true gentleman,” said an ex-player. “You cost me a fortune, paying all them fines growing up on the football pitch – a few were deserved, I suppose.”
Another agreed. “Had a few disagreements on the pitch but you just couldn’t fall out with him because he was probably right most of the time,” he said. “Never ever seen him lose his temper.”
Among Brian’s career highlights was a testimonial match involving the cast of Channel 4’s Brookside soap opera. He’s had a few outings as fourth official - at a Liverpool FC fundraiser for Tranmere Rovers at Prenton Park, and again at a Wales vs England youth match in Wrexham. He’s proud of running the line at a Wales vs Ireland ladies match before the women’s game started to take off.
Having been among the first cohort of Liverpool FC fans to buy a season ticket (“it was just £5!”), Flintshire’s football community has dubbed him “Mr Liverpool”. Friend Les said: “If you cut him in half it would read Liverpool FC through him.”
He’s seen all the greats but Brian has rarely been prouder of his team than during the Klopp era. “What you see with him is what you get,” he said. “I was at a pre-season friendly and he was chatting to everyone in the crowd – he even signed a shirt for my grandson.”
His grandson, Harry, is a young footballer and “one to look out for”, said Brian, hesitating to curse him with the prediction of a top career in the game. But if he follows his grandfather’s example, he will do just fine.
Brian’s commitment to the amateur game has prompted calls for greater recognition. There is a growing clamour for him to receive an MBE.
One person said: “Over 60 years offering support to the football world and teaching and reffing and still going at 82 years of age. That defo deserves an honour.”