A POPULAR football referee collapsed and died during a football match as his son watched in horror.

Sunday League manager Barry Hope died from a suspected heart attack while refereeing at his 12-year-old son Scott's football game, shortly after complaining of cramp.

The 43-year-old father-of-three, from Chester-le-Street, County Durham, was refereeing the third juniors match between the team he managed, Washington Dunlop Juniors, and Newbottle Juniors.

Mr Hope, whose funeral took place on Monday at St Mary and St Cuthbert's Church, Chester-le-Street, leaves a wife, Karen, 39, and sons David 18, Sean 13, and Scott. Premiership referee Alan Wilkie was also among the large congregation who attended the funeral service.

Mrs Hope said: "Barry was a hero to all three of the boys, but especially to Scott because they both loved football so much. For Scott to see him die like that was just horrendous. It is something that will always stay with him.

"Scott was brave at the funeral and so were his brothers, but it has hit them all very hard. The boys all put something special in with him. He was a huge Newcastle fan and he was buried with his Newcastle shirt and scarf. The lads put their pictures in the coffin with him as their way of saying goodbye. We are all in shock, but we will get through it together for Barry's sake."

Jim Welsh, 44, who helped Mr Hope, a fork lift truck engineer, run Washington Dunlop Juniors for three years was at the Russell Foster Sunday League game when the tragedy happened.

Mr Welsh said: "He complained about a pain but thought it was cramp and had a lie down before the game.

"He got the two team captains together and shook their hands. But he collapsed after about four minutes.

"He was a good man and would do anything for you. Football was his life and he ferried his older son to games all over the place. I am absolutely devastated about what's happened. It is hard to put into words. Barry will be sadly missed, not just for the football, but for the laughs he used to give us."