Meet Mick Henderson.

Yesterday’s game between West Auckland and Langley Park was already his 36th of the season, including pre-season friendlies

Meet Mick Henderson.

He is 82 in November and this is his 60th season as a referee.

Yesterday’s game between West Auckland and Langley Park was already his 36th of the season, including pre-season friendlies.

Amazingly, he has not dished out a single caution, compared to last season when he sent three off in the first week.

Although long-suffering, football-hating wife Beryl would prefer him to give up, he has no intention of hanging up the flags and whistle – a very special memento of an incredible career (of which more later).

Mick said: “I enjoy it too much and I love refereeing the younger age and university games. I thank God I’m still alive and still running round.

 “My eyesight is still perfect, the old legs keep going, although it does get harder, I admit that, but I still get around and I still know the game.

“I don’t get many lads arguing with my decisions, maybe because they know my age, but I think they know I get most things right. Or I’m not far wrong.”

Mick Henderson is a familiar figure in the North East football fraternity where he has also been chairman of the Durham Sunday League for 21 years.

His last Durham FA assessment, and therefore competence rating, was by Premier League referee Michael Oliver.

"It was a very good report,” he said. “He did it when he was injured and was very complimentary. He’s a lovely lad.

“These referees are under such huge pressure to get every decision right. They’re not allowed to be human and make honest mistakes. There is no job like it.

“Saying that, I used to go to the ice hockey and give referees terrible abuse.”

His treasured whistle was blown by Sir Bobby Robson before a charity match in the former England and Newcastle manager’s home village, a year before his death.

“I only met him that one time,” added the former teacher, who taught former  player David Armstrong and Middlesbrough’s recently retired Stuart Parnaby.

England

“He was such a wonderful man, and a real football man. And he blew that whistle.”

Mick qualified as a referee during his National Service in 1954 and is still a regular on the circuit at all ages, often taking in eight games in a week.

“When I first started there was absolutely no swearing at all. Now you hear it all the time and unless it’s directed at me, or the spectators, I have to ignore it.

“And trust me, the ladies swear just as bad as the bloke