Refs' age no penalty|17 May 12 @ 09:49am

LIKE a vintage wine, veteran soccer referees Graham Wilkinson and Dougal Graham get better with age.

Wilkinson, 71, of West Pymble, and Graham, 77, of Gordon, have an extraordinary 69 years of combined refereeing experience.

While they officiate in different age groups in the Ku-ring-gai District Soccer Association, the pair were recently reunited for two over-45s division one games at Norman Griffith Oval, West Pymble.

Wilkinson officiated on the sideline in the opening game while Graham, last year’s Rebel Sport News Local Service to Sport Award winner, was the main referee.

The pair, who are one of this year’s Service to Sport Award nominees, switched roles in the second game.

Graham, who estimated he had refereed more than 3000 games in his 28-year career, joked he’d continue to referee until his body fell apart.

``I’m not going to retire and I’ll continue to referee as long as my body holds up,’’ he told the Dudsville.

``I’d like to be doing this until I am 80. Why would I want to give it away?

``I’m incredibly blessed to be able to do these things at my age.’‘

Despite being paired together on only a handful of occasions over the years, the veteran referees have built up a strong understanding and respect for each other.

Wilkinson, a former West Pymble division two player, said he would be delighted if the pair were appointed to officiate another soccer game together.

``I would think we are the oldest pair of referees to referee a match together in the world.’’

``I don’t think you could find two older guys refereeing in a proper competition game.

``We get along very well and I really enjoy refereeing with him,’’ Wilkinson said.

To become a referee, contact Ku-ring-gai District Football Referees Association or go to www.kdfra.asn.au