Referee who dedicated more than 50 years to football dies of coronavirus aged 86

Tom Harvey was a resident of the Gretton Court care home and had a number of underlying health issues when he died due to coronavirus on Good Friday, April 10, just days before his next birthday.

Born and raised in Hartlepool, he had a wealth of achievements and accolades to his name for his work in supporting the town’s teams, as well as encouraging people into sports and serving as a referee.

Among them was his role as a divisional representative for football in the South East of Durham County FA, including Hartlepool, Peterlee and he was elected to become its vice president.

He was also chairman of the Durham County FA Referees’ Committee for many years and was instrumental in many new initiatives.

This included the training of inmates at HM Prison Holme House, where he attended on a weekly basis teaching the laws of association football in refereeing, working with other officials to put students through their exam.

He also played an integral part of Durham County FA's work to promote girls' football, helping to set up fixtures held at Chester-le-Street Riverside and at East Durham College.

To mark 50 years of his work as a referee with Durham FA, it made an award made to him on the pitch of his beloved Hartlepool United’s home ground Victoria Park, with then-president Frank Pattison making him a life member as Tom announced his retirement from the organisation in January 2010

Also among his titles was an award for services to sport from Hartlepool Borough Council presented in 1997 and he also served as secretary of Hartlepool Church Football League, as well as its cricket section, and president of the St Francis Youth League and of Hartlepool FC Seniors.

He was a member of Hartlepool Royal Naval Club Bowls for more than 30 years, served as a volunteer bookkeeper for St Joseph's RC Church and spent more than a decade with Hartlepool Male Voice Choir.

He started his working career in the offices of British Steel and went on to work for a Middlesbrough cleaning company, going on to run his own firm for a time, Harvey Cleaning Supplies.

He also worked a caretaker of Sacred Heart RC Primary in Hart Lane.

Tom was married to Josie for almost 50 years and the couple had three children, Neil, 61, Anthony, 57, and Angela, 55, and was a grandfather of four, and in his 70s found love again, marrying Lilian.

Speaking on behalf of the family, Anthony said: “He was a loving, caring father and he was a true gent.

“Our dad did a lot for other people, especially in the sporting arena and he loved football, as well as cricket and bowls, and had a full and varied life.”We have had some lovely comments from the footballing community, it has been amazing.”

Tom’s family are planning to hold a memorial service for him once the coronavirus outbreak has come to an end.

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