Local football servant Dave Marshall dies, aged 79

Dave started refereeing at 16 and progressed to the the County Senior League and on to the Yorkshire League, Northern Counties East League and North Midlands League.

He also ran the line in the Northern Premier League, equivalent to what is now the National League, the fifth tier of the football pyramid.

Dave joined Rotherham Referees Society in 1960 and remained a member until his death last week due to Covid-19.

A tireless supporter of the local game, he served Rotherham FA and various leagues and cup competitions and was referees appointments secretary for the Rotherham Sunday League in the days when it had 120 teams. 

He was also a keen Rotherham United supporter and was a fire officer at Millmoor, Don Valley Stadium and the New York Stadium.

Rotherham Referees Association president Bill Webb said Dave as a man who "devoted his whole life to football and will be sorely missed."

Dave's daughter, Bev, said he was a "a character and a great dad and grandad" while Sunday League secretary Mark Pilley praised the help Dave gave him in his own refereeing days.

We'll have a fuller tribute in Thursday's Advertiser.

We'll have a full tribute in this week's Advertiser.