'A firm handshake shows that you're in charge' says Anthony

Anthony Warren, from Harlech, Gwynedd, has been taking charge of games for the past 57 years.

The pensioner, who receives �12 for refereeing a match and �14 for running the line, believes 80 is the perfect age to put away his cards for good.

He will blow his final whistle for the last time in Bethesda on Saturday.

"I've always said 80 was the cut-off for me," said the former electrician, who is originally from Derbyshire.

Ron Bridges, secretary of the Welsh Alliance League said he was be sorry to lose Mr Warren's expertise.

I'm pleased to be getting out because of the language Anthony Warren

"As far as I know he's the oldest active referee Wales has had."

Mr Warren lives in Harlech with his wife, who regularly accompanies him to matches played throughout Gwynedd.

He turns out most Saturdays to referee in the Caernarfon and District League and runs the line for teams in the Welsh Alliance.

Robin Williams, former secretary of the Caernarfon and District League, said Mr Warren "had his whole heart in the job".

He became involved in football aged 23 after criticising a referee in Derbyshire.

"I was asked if I could do better and I had a form thrust at me," he joked.

Fitness

"I won't miss football but I'll miss the friendships I've made," said Mr Warren, who is 80 next Sunday.

"I'm pleased to be getting out because of the language.

"The players want to rule the referee now. You get so much appealing today that you never used to get in the older days."

But Mr Warren said in general he wins a lot of respect from players.

"I don't get much hassle about my age. They're friendly and they respect me.

"You have to be a strong referee and a firm handshake shows that you're in charge."

A keen golfer, he believed his level of fitness was due to his childhood.

"I was never allowed to play sport at school and I think that if I'd been active then I wouldn't be active now," he said.

"I've always been slim and where we live there are so many hills that you exercise automatically.

"Even now I'm starting to feel guilty that I'm so fit when there are poor people in hospital," he added.

Laughing, he said he intended to fill his spare time with a "game of golf and I'm going to chase the women."