Father dies refereeing son's match

Mr Hope was refereeing only his third football match

A popular football referee died during a match his own son was playing in.

Sunday League manager Barry Hope collapsed while refereeing at his 12-year-old son Scott's fixture in Washington, Tyne and Wear.

He had complained of cramp just minutes before taking to the pitch.

The 43-year-old father-of-three, from Chester-le-Street, County Durham, collapsed with a suspected heart attack.

It looked as if he had slipped and tried to get up, rubbing his calves, and fell flat on the ground

Jim Welsh

Jim Welsh, 44, who helped Mr Hope run the youngsters' team for three years and was at the Russell Foster Sunday League game, said: "When I got there Barry seemed fine and was composing himself for the game.

"He complained about a pain but thought it was cramp and had a lie down before the game.

"When the game was about to start he did his usual, checked the corner flags and made sure everything was perfect.

"He got the two team captains together and shook their hands. But he collapsed after about four minutes.

"It looked as if he had slipped and tried to get up, rubbing his calves, and fell flat on the ground."

'Sadly missed'

First aiders tried to save Mr Hope while several spectators used their mobile phones to call for an ambulance.

Mr Welsh, who had known Mr Hope for almost five years, added: "I went out onto the road to make sure the ambulance didn't get lost.

"Scott was being comforted, but he was obviously distraught.

"Barry will be sadly missed, not just for the football, but for the laughs he used to give us."

Mr Hope had been refereeing only his third juniors match between the team he managed, Washington Juniors, and the Newbottle Juniors, when he collapsed.