Tribute to respected referee

OLDHAM teams have paid silent tributes to a referee who died after collapsing during a football match.

Ken Cribben (61) was in charge of the under-18s game between Manchester United Ladies and Oldham-based ROCS.

The father-of-five daughters suffered a heart attack minutes into the clash at The Cliff, Salford.

The players were taken off the pitch as ROCS team manager Paul Tong and Manchester United officials tried to revive Mr Gribben. He died two days later on January 18 at Salford Royal Hospital.

The teams had been due to meet again yesterday at Clayton playing fields, but the match was postponed as a mark of respect.

A minute’s silence has also been held at games in the North Manchester Girls and Tameside leagues.