FOOTBALL fanatic Ken Parr has been involved with the game for as long as he cares to remember.

At the age of eight he was collecting the corner flags at Bloomfield Road and putting them in the groundsman's hut for the princely wage of one meat pie.

Now, after 50 years in soccer, the Football Association has presented Ken with a medal for his service to the game.

In 1946, Ken began refereeing in the Blackpool and District League at the age of just 18 and remembers with fondness the teams and players of the time.

Ken, of Kenwyn Avenue, Blackpool, said: "It was the golden age of local football. Teams like Blackpool Rangers and St Annes Athletic dominated the local leagues - they were great years."

He became the youngest linesman in the Football League at the age of 27 and began senior refereeing seven seasons later in 1962, taking charge of Manchester United against Liverpool in his first season.

However, in 1966 a back complaint forced him to retire early. Just four years later, he was on a new panel which assessed the performance of referees in the Football League.

He was a director of Blackpool Football Club for a period in the 1970s and joined the Lancashire Football Association in 1984, where he is now the chairman of discipline.

Ken said: "It was always my ambition to referee the cup final, but unfortunately my injury forced me to retire and I never did.

"I've enjoyed my time in football and I'll continue at the county FA for as long as I can."

President of Lancashire FA, Derek Lewin, presented Ken with the award and said he thoroughly deserved the honour.

Mr Lewin added: "Ken is one of the true devotees of the game and has made an enormous contribution over the years.

"He knows everything there is to know about the rules of football and still makes a very important contribution."

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