A NEWPORT pensioner who has refereed more than 4,000 football matches has announced his retirement from the game.

Trevor Kemp, 84, from Lliswerry, is hanging up his whistle and notebook – having officiated in the Newport and District League since 1977.

A former footballer with Somerton Rovers and Butlins, Mr Kemp played as a centre forward until the age of 42 and would have carried on but for an injury to his right leg.

Keen to stay involved with grassroots football, the former steelworker took up refereeing and kept fit simply by riding his bike every day.

Officiating an average of four fixtures every week, Mr Kemp became one of the most reliable and well-respected referees in Gwent for his passion for the game.

Among the many highlights during his longstanding career was refereeing a schoolboy international between Wales and Ireland under-16s at Ninian Park in Cardiff in 1987.

Mr Kemp also saw Newport’s own Tony Pulis, Peter Nicholas, Mark Aizlewood and Nathan Blake blossom on the grassroots pitches of Gwent as players.

Reflecting on nearly four decades of selfless commitment, Mr Kemp said: “Playing the game was helpful as you had the experience and knew what to do.

“If there was any trouble I knew to talk rather than tell them, 'It’s like this or it’s like that'.

“Referees became more abused as time went on and if someone used bad language, I would give a free-kick.

“It was common sense and you would get more out of players that way than giving red cards, which was too easy.

“I’ll miss it, but I’ve given everything I’ve got and it’s time for a new chapter. My time’s come and it’s time to let go.”

Whether it’s the changes in footwear or the rise in wages, football has changed massively since 1977.

For Mr Kemp, that change in the professional game has had mixed results at grassroots level: “It’s fitter and referees really have to put their minds to it.

“It became about the angles as I got older, instead of running around like a hare.

“But, money’s spoilt the game. Millions are spent on players, but without the chap next door who helped them along they would not be where they are.”

Mr Kemp now plans to devote his spare time to Lliswerry Choir, where he has been a member for four years.

Paying tribute, the fixture secretary for Newport and District Football league, Dick Downes, said: “As well as refereeing, Trevor played in the league for so many years.

“He was well known to generations of footballers.

“He did a lot for grassroots football, which is not looked after as much as professional football, and is what really gets children involved in the game.”