Former Premier League referee Uriah Rennie has handed away aged 65.
Rennie was remembered as a ‘true trailblazer’ given he made historical past in 1997 when he turned the English top-flight’s first black match official, earlier than happening to referee over 300 matches within the division.
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An announcement from the FA learn.”The FA Refereeing Division is saddened to listen to of the passing of former FIFA and Premier League referee, Uriah Rennie.
“Uriah will eternally be remembered as a real trailblazer of the sport.
“Our ideas are with Uriah’s household and associates at the moment.”
Championship membership Sheffield United paid tribute to the 65-year-old on X.
“Sheffield United are saddened to study of the passing of widespread and trailblazing referee Uriah Rennie,” the submit learn.
“Our ideas are together with his family and friends at the moment.”
Former Liverpool and Aston Villa ahead Stan Collymore wrote: “Extremely unhappy to listen to of the passing of referee Uriah Rennie.
“A pioneer, trailblazer and bloody good ref. Relaxation in peace, Ref.”
Rennie’s tragic passing comes two months after he revealed he was studying to stroll once more following his analysis of a uncommon neurological situation.
In an interview with the BBC, Rennie thought he’d ‘simply slept humorous on a solar lounger’ whereas on vacation in Turkey.
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Sadly, it turned out to be a life-altering situation.
“By the tip of the vacation I could not sleep a wink from the ache, and by the point I acquired dwelling I may barely stroll,” Rennie mentioned.
Upon returning, he was admitted to Northern Common Hospital final October and knowledgeable by medical doctors he had an inoperable neurological situation.
“I spent a month laid on my again and one other 4 months sitting in mattress,” Rennie mentioned.
“They saved me in hospital till February, they discovered a nodule pushing on my backbone and it was a uncommon neurological situation so it is not one thing they will function on.
“I’ve needed to study to maneuver over again, I am retraining my legs.”
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A Justice of the Peace in his dwelling city of Sheffield since 1996, Rennie was on the verge of beginning a brand new position as Sheffield Hallam College chancellor when he first went to hospital.
Born in Jamaica, Rennie moved to the UK on the age of six.
Rennie started officiating in native leagues in 1979 and was given his first Premier League task in 1997, a conflict between Derby County and Wimbledon.