Latest news with #UriahRennie
The Hindu
4 hours ago
- Sport
- The Hindu
Premier League's first Black referee Rennie dies aged 65
Uriah Rennie, the first Black referee in the Premier League, has died aged 65, the Sheffield and Hallamshire County Football Association said on Sunday. Jamaican-born Rennie, who grew up in Sheffield, made history in 1997 when he refereed a Premier League match between Derby County and Wimbledon. He went on to officiate in over 300 games - including 175 in England's top flight. "As the first Black referee in the Premier League, Uriah was a pioneering trailblazer whose legacy will live on, continuing to inspire future generations," the Premier League said in a statement on Monday. Rennie retired in 2008 and 15 years passed before another Black official took charge of a Premier League game, Sam Allison refereeing Sheffield United against Luton Town in 2023. In April, Rennie told the BBC he was learning to walk again after being left paralysed from the waist down by a rare condition. "Incredibly sad to hear of the passing of referee Uriah Rennie. A pioneer, trailblazer and a bloody good ref," former England and Liverpool striker Stan Collymore wrote on social media.
Daily Mail
6 hours ago
- Sport
- Daily Mail
Uriah Rennie was always honest, always respectful, always in control. He was a true gentle giant, writes ex-colleague MARK CLATTENBURG
Uriah Rennie was a big personality when I came into the Premier League. For one thing, he was an imposing figure. Tall, strong and physically very fit. He was an expert in martial arts. He never struggled with the fitness tests. For another, he was a trailblazer as the first black referee to reach the top flight of English football. That might have brought added pressure, but it didn't show. He handled it well and didn't seek to use it to his advantage. As far as Uriah was concerned, he was always just a referee. Like the rest of us. Although I've no doubt his success certainly helped to open doors for other people from ethnic minorities. He was very popular in the referees' group. He didn't say a lot. I always thought of him as a gentle giant. Quiet, but when he spoke everybody listened. He was good to me, always gave me advice in my younger days. Always honest. One game, I was his fourth official at Manchester City and I'd seen something and informed him over the headset, but he decided not to dismiss the player involved. When we were looking back in the debrief meeting the following week, he was open and said to the group, 'No, Mark told me about that, I just decided not to act on it'. Some referees would cover that up. He didn't. He told the truth. You try to learn from those around you and I learned from Uriah's style. I liked how he controlled the game and how he spoke to the players. He always spoke to them in the right way and earned their respect. Players liked him. He wasn't one of those who wanted to be centre of attention. He was quite low profile, but everybody knew Uriah Rennie. Not only in English football but he stood out in international football because of what he had achieved. He also stood out because of his physical stature. And I know from experience that when he hit you, it certainly hurt. He smacked me between the legs once as a joke when I was his fourth official at Elland Road. Just as we were walking out of the dressing room. I couldn't breathe and it was 10 minutes before I could speak. All I can remember is we were all laughing as we walked out, and people were giving us strange looks. He liked to have a laugh. The last time I saw him would've been at his house in Sheffield after he retired. It's easy to lose touch when people leave the group, but he got back in touch. I went to see him and we spent an afternoon together, just chatting about the old times. We stayed in touch and sent messages on WhatsApp. I knew he had been having problems with his health, but his death came as a shock. It's so sad to lose such an important figure and 65 is no age. Uriah was unique. One of a kind.
BreakingNews.ie
11 hours ago
- Sport
- BreakingNews.ie
Uriah Rennie remembered as ‘epitome of a role model' after death at 65
Uriah Rennie, the Premier League's first black referee, has been remembered as a 'trailblazer' and the 'epitome of a role model' following his death at the age of 65. Rennie was born in Jamaica before moving to Sheffield aged six with his family and went on to oversee more than 300 games between 1997 and 2008, including 175 in the English top flight. Advertisement Once described as the 'fittest' match official in world football, Rennie recently revealed he was learning to walk again after a rare neurological condition left him paralysed from the waist down. After his death was announced on Sunday, Howard Webb, the Professional Game Match Officials Board Limited (PGMOL) chief refereeing officer, paid tribute to his former colleague. Webb said in a statement: 'Uri was not only a trailblazer who paved the way for many others after becoming the first black referee in the Premier League, he was a great person and a great referee who cared deeply about his community and helping people fulfil their potential. 'He was a strong influence on our refereeing group too, offering a calming presence and we shared many good times together. Advertisement 'An epitome of a role model, Uri was a valued member of the football family who has been taken from us too soon. Our thoughts are with his family and friends at this difficult time. He will be sorely missed by us all but his legacy will live on.' Rennie started refereeing locally in 1979 before making history in 1997 when taking charge of his first Premier League match between Derby and Wimbledon, which he had to abandon because of a floodlight failure at Pride Park. The Premier League said on X: 'Uriah was a pioneering trailblazer whose legacy will live on, continuing to inspire future generations.' Rennie became a FIFA-listed referee in 2000 and joined the select group of professionals one year later before retiring in 2008. Advertisement Anti-discrimination charity Kick It Out said on X: 'We are deeply saddened to hear the heartbreaking news about Uriah Rennie. 'A trailblazer in every sense, he will always be a Premier League legend by becoming its first black referee, providing leadership, talent and visibility that proved inspirational to many. 'Uriah played a massive role in shaping the game as we know it today. Football should always be grateful to him.' In November 2023 martial arts expert Rennie was awarded an honorary doctorate by Sheffield Hallam University for his distinguished contributions to sport and his work with South Yorkshire communities. Advertisement He was last month installed as the chancellor of the university and was labelled by former Premier League referee Chris Foy as a 'real community hero in that part of the world'. Chris Foy, pictured, paid tribute to mentor and friend Uriah Rennie (Mike Egerton/PA) In an emotional interview with talkSPORT, Foy said: 'He was a gentleman, a gentle giant. He was a friend to me, a mentor to me, he was just a special person who put everybody first before himself. 'He was a real presence on the field and he was a real presence off the field, a true gentleman. If it was difficult for him, he never showed it because he was always grounded. He loved refereeing.' Another former Premier League referee, Dermot Gallagher, told Sky Sports: 'As a person he was humble, he was quiet, he was unassuming. But most importantly, he was kind.' Advertisement
The Independent
15 hours ago
- Sport
- The Independent
Uriah Rennie remembered as ‘epitome of a role model' after death at 65
Uriah Rennie, the Premier League's first black referee, has been remembered as a 'trailblazer' and the 'epitome of a role model' following his death at the age of 65. Rennie was born in Jamaica before moving to Sheffield aged six with his family and went on to oversee more than 300 games between 1997 and 2008, including 175 in the English top flight. Once described as the 'fittest' match official in world football, Rennie recently revealed he was learning to walk again after a rare neurological condition left him paralysed from the waist down. After his death was announced on Sunday, Howard Webb, the Professional Game Match Officials Board Limited (PGMOL) chief refereeing officer, paid tribute to his former colleague. Webb said in a statement: 'Uri was not only a trailblazer who paved the way for many others after becoming the first black referee in the Premier League, he was a great person and a great referee who cared deeply about his community and helping people fulfil their potential. 'He was a strong influence on our refereeing group too, offering a calming presence and we shared many good times together. 'An epitome of a role model, Uri was a valued member of the football family who has been taken from us too soon. Our thoughts are with his family and friends at this difficult time. He will be sorely missed by us all but his legacy will live on.' Rennie started refereeing locally in 1979 before making history in 1997 when taking charge of his first Premier League match between Derby and Wimbledon, which he had to abandon because of a floodlight failure at Pride Park. The Premier League said on X: 'Uriah was a pioneering trailblazer whose legacy will live on, continuing to inspire future generations.' Rennie became a FIFA-listed referee in 2000 and joined the select group of professionals one year later before retiring in 2008. Anti-discrimination charity Kick It Out said on X: 'We are deeply saddened to hear the heartbreaking news about Uriah Rennie. 'A trailblazer in every sense, he will always be a Premier League legend by becoming its first black referee, providing leadership, talent and visibility that proved inspirational to many. 'Uriah played a massive role in shaping the game as we know it today. Football should always be grateful to him.' In November 2023 martial arts expert Rennie was awarded an honorary doctorate by Sheffield Hallam University for his distinguished contributions to sport and his work with South Yorkshire communities. He was last month installed as the chancellor of the university and was labelled by former Premier League referee Chris Foy as a 'real community hero in that part of the world'. In an emotional interview with talkSPORT, Foy said: 'He was a gentleman, a gentle giant. He was a friend to me, a mentor to me, he was just a special person who put everybody first before himself. 'He was a real presence on the field and he was a real presence off the field, a true gentleman. If it was difficult for him, he never showed it because he was always grounded. He loved refereeing.' Another former Premier League referee, Dermot Gallagher, told Sky Sports: 'As a person he was humble, he was quiet, he was unassuming. But most importantly, he was kind.'
Yahoo
15 hours ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
Uriah Rennie remembered as ‘epitome of a role model' after death at 65
Uriah Rennie, the Premier League's first black referee, has been remembered as a 'trailblazer' and the 'epitome of a role model' following his death at the age of 65. Rennie was born in Jamaica before moving to Sheffield aged six with his family and went on to oversee more than 300 games between 1997 and 2008, including 175 in the English top flight. Advertisement Once described as the 'fittest' match official in world football, Rennie recently revealed he was learning to walk again after a rare neurological condition left him paralysed from the waist down. After his death was announced on Sunday, Howard Webb, the Professional Game Match Officials Board Limited (PGMOL) chief refereeing officer, paid tribute to his former colleague. Webb said in a statement: 'Uri was not only a trailblazer who paved the way for many others after becoming the first black referee in the Premier League, he was a great person and a great referee who cared deeply about his community and helping people fulfil their potential. 'He was a strong influence on our refereeing group too, offering a calming presence and we shared many good times together. Advertisement 'An epitome of a role model, Uri was a valued member of the football family who has been taken from us too soon. Our thoughts are with his family and friends at this difficult time. He will be sorely missed by us all but his legacy will live on.' Rennie started refereeing locally in 1979 before making history in 1997 when taking charge of his first Premier League match between Derby and Wimbledon, which he had to abandon because of a floodlight failure at Pride Park. The Premier League said on X: 'Uriah was a pioneering trailblazer whose legacy will live on, continuing to inspire future generations.' Advertisement Rennie became a FIFA-listed referee in 2000 and joined the select group of professionals one year later before retiring in 2008. Anti-discrimination charity Kick It Out said on X: 'We are deeply saddened to hear the heartbreaking news about Uriah Rennie. 'A trailblazer in every sense, he will always be a Premier League legend by becoming its first black referee, providing leadership, talent and visibility that proved inspirational to many. 'Uriah played a massive role in shaping the game as we know it today. Football should always be grateful to him.' In November 2023 martial arts expert Rennie was awarded an honorary doctorate by Sheffield Hallam University for his distinguished contributions to sport and his work with South Yorkshire communities. Advertisement He was last month installed as the chancellor of the university and was labelled by former Premier League referee Chris Foy as a 'real community hero in that part of the world'. Chris Foy, pictured, paid tribute to mentor and friend Uriah Rennie (Mike Egerton/PA) In an emotional interview with talkSPORT, Foy said: 'He was a gentleman, a gentle giant. He was a friend to me, a mentor to me, he was just a special person who put everybody first before himself. 'He was a real presence on the field and he was a real presence off the field, a true gentleman. If it was difficult for him, he never showed it because he was always grounded. He loved refereeing.' Another former Premier League referee, Dermot Gallagher, told Sky Sports: 'As a person he was humble, he was quiet, he was unassuming. But most importantly, he was kind.'
