BRIAN Wratten, one of the best known referees in the area – particularly of youth and school football – has died at the age of 83. He was still refereeing a week before his death.

Brian started refereeing informally in 1949, but it wasn’t until he moved to America in 1976 that he became a qualified football referee.

Living in New Jersey, he officiated in adult and youth football and was a founder member of the North West Jersey Association of Soccer Referees. Through his work he moved to Switzerland where he officiated on the NW Swiss League.

He returned to America and in 1993 was enshrined in the New Jersey Youth Soccer Hall of Fame, the first referee to be so honoured.

He returned to England and joined the Reading Referees Association, where he became membership secretary and treasurer. At the time of his death he was president.

Brian also became a FA Referee Tutor and more than 1,000 new referees have been trained by him, including many in the past few seasons.

He also formed part of a five-man management consultancy team that led the reconstruction of the National Referees Association.

He refereed widely for youth and school football including a national cup final.