The final whistle was sounded yesterday (Wednesday) for a Bracknell referee who officiated at many grassroots football matches for more than 40 years.
Barry Haslewood was known affectionately as Barry the Book by many local footballers due to his use of red and yellow cards during many matches.
He died last month after battling cancer, and his funeral took place at Bracknell Crematorium.
He was sent off by a large number of fellow referees who gave his coffin a guard of honour as it entered, and brandished red and yellow cards.
The service, which was attended by a large number of players and officials from the Bracknell Sunday League, and from the Berks & Bucks Football Association, also saw a fellow referee blow the final whistle in front of his coffin.
Funeral celebrant Edith Wright described him as a “true legend”, and joked that the Berks & Bucks FA will be now be looking to fill a large gap in its finances – a reference to the number of cautions he’d issued that resulted in fines for players payable to the association.
