The celebration of the life of former Toolstation NCEL chairman David Morrall will be held next month, it has been announced.

It will take place at the North Chapel, Grenoside Crematorium, Skew Hill Lane, Sheffield, S35 8RZ, at 4pm on Thursday 8th February, 2024.

Tributes have been pouring in for David who passed away last week after a long illness and his family hope that people will also join them at Sheffield Wednesday FC to raise a glass in his memory after the celebration.

The request is for family flowers only please but a Justgiving page for St Luke’s Hospice and the Lewy Body Society has been set up for donations in David’s memory.

It will be an opportunity to reflect on David's long involvement in football that began when he played for his junior school and secondary school sides, Sheffield Boys, and a local men's club team.

Then, he formed a team with friends before taking up refereeing, achieving his Class 1 in 1976, aged 21.

David officiated on all local, Saturday and Sunday leagues, and cup competitions before finally achieving promotion to the Northern Intermediate and Central Leagues among others.

He acted as fourth official at various local league clubs, officiated on various local cup finals and player testimonials for Sheffield Wednesday, Sheffield United and Leeds United as well as pre-season friendlies.

David was promoted to the Football League line in 1989 and he officiated on the Premier League, being one of the officials that did the first game where the officials were given the ability to talk during a game, Liverpool versus Spurs in May 1999.

During his career, he officiated for ESFA, including England U15s v West Germany U15s in 1991, England U18s v Austria U18s in 1993, and England v Spain in the Heinz Ketchup Trophy Final 1998/1999.

He travelled to the Faroe Islands in 1994 for two Europa Cup games and was an assistant referee for the Arsenal versus Manchester United Charity Shield match in August 1998.

David was editor of the Sheffield Referee, and he was a referee escort during the XVI Universiade games in 1991.

He spent time as referees secretary for Meadowhall Sunday League, before taking over as referees secretary at the NCEL where he went on to become chairman, retiring with ill health in 2020.

He represented Steps 5,6 and 7 before being elected to the FA Council, retiring in 2020.

He also acted as an assessor/observer once finishing his referee career, and he was also involved at Sheffield & Hallamshire County FA, serving on their committee.

He made many friends in football, including referees from Iceland and the USA, and will be greatly missed.