Amateur football circles in Fife have been shocked by the sudden death of a referee who collapsed and died while officiating at the weekend.
On Monday tributes were paid to 45-year-old Stuart McPhee, who took up refereeing only three years ago after he gave up running youth football teams.
Mr McPhee, who lived in Kirkcaldy, is survived by his wife Karen and sons Richard and Stuart.
He worked for a company in Glenrothes.
He had been refereeing the league game between Denbeath AFC and Kinglassie at the Savoy Park in Methil on Saturday when he collapsed 30 minutes into the first half in front of horrified players and spectators.
Robert Currie, chairman of the Denbeath club and of the Fife Amateur League, said, “He was lying on the ground with his hand clutched to his chest and I knew something was seriously wrong.”
Mr McPhee had apparently been complaining of chest pains before the game. He had mentioned this to a couple of players during the game but said he thought it was just heartburn.
Mr Currie said, “Our manager, David Finlayson, who is our first-aider, and captain Brian Simpson, who is a prison officer and I think has first-aid training, tried to help, as did others.”
“They took charge and David called an ambulance which was there within about 10 minutes.”
He added, “Mr McPhee was just lying there with his kit on, so I got a couple of the Kinglassie lads to take off their subs’ suits and cover him.
“The two girls from the ambulance worked on him on the pitch and then in the ambulance. They were pumping away on his chest.”
Sadly, Mr McPhee died on the way to hospital.”Absolutely tragic”Mr Currie said, “It’s tragic. He was a nice guy and got on well with the players and they got on well with him.”
League secretary Archie Denny said, “He was a quiet lad, a non-demonstrative type of referee who just looked to get the job done and everyone got on great with him.”
Adding that a minute’s silence would be held at all Fife Amateur League games on Saturday as a mark of respect, Mr Denny said, “Stuart was never a card-happy ref he just got on with the game and the players respected that.
“The league is devastated by what’s happened. It is absolutely tragic.”
SFA Referees (Fife) expressed shock and sadness.
President George MacDonald said, “It has become apparent in the past few days of how widely liked and regarded Stuart was.
“The association has been inundated with messages of support and sympathy.”
He added, “The overwhelming message is of a quiet-spoken, decent man for whom his colleagues had much affection and whose refereeing ability was held in high regard by the leagues who made use of him.
“We are mindful that the association’s loss is inconsequential compared to that suffered by his family, in particular wife Karen and sons, Richard and Stuart, who have lost a husband, father and friend.
“We have offered our support to the family and will continue to do so.”