A FOOTBALL referee has died while officiating at a match.

Gary Cook, 53, collapsed during the game between Great Bentley and Coggeshall Town on Saturday.

About 30 minutes into the game Mr Cook, from Halstead, was jogging back to the halfway line after a goal, and seemed to trip and fall.

Witnesses said it was only after he did not get up that people realised something was wrong.

Mr Cook seemed to recover and went to sit down, but a short while later fell unconscious.

An ambulance arrived after seven minutes, but Mr Cook later died.

His widow Margaret, 52, said: "He was well loved by all who knew him.

"He was a quiet person and was always very calm, which gave him a good temperament for being a referee."

Mrs Cook said her husband was a lifelong Tottenham Hotspur fan, and that football and his family were what he held most important in his life.

The couple also enjoyed scuba diving holidays.

Terry Thacker, Essex County Football Association referee development officer, said said: "He was a very warm and friendly chap.

"For local football, he was quite high up, and also did a lot of work for the County FA as an assessor and examiner. He will be sorely missed."

Mr Cook registered as a referee in 1989, and had worked his way up to a level five referee.

Before his refereeing career, he played football for several local clubs.

He leaves three children, Tristan, 33, Lydia 31, and Leighton 27, and four grandchildren.