A WORLD Cup referee who presided over finals in Italy and Mexico has been recognised for promoting his home town in the North-East.

George Courtney, a former headteacher, councillor and Fifa referee, was presented with a scroll of honour from Spennymoor Town Council. Mr Courtney began his refereeing career in the County Durham town, in 1961, and was headteacher of its Ox Close Primary School, from 1981 to 1998. He said: “It was lovely to be recognised. I love Spennymoor and I can’t imagine ever leaving it.”

Spennymoor Town Council first started presenting the scroll in 1994 and it does so following nominations from residen