Hundreds pay respects to referee Uriah Rennie

Uriah Rennie, the Premier League's first black referee, died aged 65 on 7 June

Hundreds of people have gathered to pay their respects to football referee Uriah Rennie at his funeral at Sheffield Cathedral.

Rennie, the Premier League's first black referee, died aged 65 on 7 June after "battling a recent cancer diagnosis", his family said.

He officiated more than 300 top-flight fixtures between 1997 and 2008 and was well-known in South Yorkshire for his work with community sports groups and young people.

Yuri Matischen, chairman of basketball team Sheffield Sharks, attended the service on Monday morning and said: "Rennie was the epitome of the power of sport and what it can do for communities."

"He was always a great community leader and a sports enthusiast," Mr Matischen said.

"He drove so many relationships and partnerships, I don't think there was a sporting club that he didn't touch throughout the whole city.

"He was good-hearted, loved sport from football to basketball to volleyball, and had a great affinity with people."

The service was shown on a large screen outside the cathedral

In April, Rennie revealed he was learning to walk again after a rare condition had left him paralysed from the waist down.

The following month hundreds of people celebrated his inauguration as the new chancellor of Sheffield Hallam University.

He died from cancer before he could fully begin the role.

Vice-Chancellor Prof Liz Mossop said he had meant a huge amount to many different people.

"His upbringing, his tenacity and his resilience to achieve the amazing things he achieved were reflected in his career, but he also brought those skills and values to Sheffield," Prof Mossop said.

"He supported so many different organisations and individuals across the city and in the region.

"He was always somebody who helped people, no matter who they were or where they came from. He just got out there and did the right thing for them."

Uriah Rennie during his time as a Premier League referee

Born in Jamaica, Rennie moved to Sheffield aged six and grew up in the Wybourn area of the city.

He started refereeing in local football in 1979 before making history in 1997 when he oversaw a top-flight match between Derby County and Wimbledon.

He retired from football in 2008.

Rennie was also a magistrate for the city, a role he took up in 1996.

In a statement, his partner Jayne and older brother Glenroy said: "He will be so sadly missed.

"Our family have appreciated all the support from the nursing teams from Northern General and Weston Park Hospitals, plus close family and friends during such a difficult time."

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