A MINUTE'S silence was held at all Northern League games at the weekend in honour of a league referee who died of a heart condition earlier this month aged just 37 years.
Father-of-two John Challoner refereed his first game at St James' Park less than a year ago.
Mr Challoner of Palmerston Street, Consett, had been swimming just hours before his death, which a post mortem revealed was caused by heart disease.
Mr Challoner first got involved in refereeing when injury stopped him from playing football.
The highlight of his refereeing career was when he took charge of a youth team game between Newcastle United and Manchester United at St James' Park.
Durham FA secretary John Topping, who attended Mr Challoner's funeral at Consett Methodist Church on Thursday, said: "He was a very popular referee. It is a tragedy and has come as a shock to everybody."
Mr Challoner worked as a materials controller and is survived by his wife Pam, son Phillip, 14, and daughter Michelle, 10.
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