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Uriah Rennie, the first black referee in the history of the Premier League, has passed away at the age of 65. Rennie officiated over 300 matches from 1997 to 2008, with 175 of those being Premier League games. The Sheffield & Hallamshire County Football Association expressed their sorrow at his passing, acknowledging his groundbreaking role as the Premier League’s inaugural black referee.
Recently, Rennie had shared that he was in the process of learning to walk again after being paralyzed from the waist down due to a rare condition. Originally from Jamaica, he relocated to Sheffield as a child and was raised in the Wybourn neighborhood of the city. His refereeing career began in 1979 within local football leagues, culminating in his historic moment in 1997 when he officiated a top-flight match between Derby County and Wimbledon.
Tributes poured in for Rennie, with Leon Mann, co-founder of the Football Black List, emphasizing his impact as a pioneering black referee and leader in the sport. Rennie’s contributions extended beyond refereeing, as he served as a magistrate in Sheffield from 1996 and advocated for various social issues including equality, mental health, and combating deprivation. Furthermore, his academic achievements were recognized when he was honored with an honorary doctorate by Sheffield Hallam University in November 2023 for his outstanding efforts in sport and community engagement.
In May, Rennie took on a new role as the chancellor of the university, further solidifying his commitment to education and advocacy within the South Yorkshire region. His legacy as a trailblazer in the world of football and his dedication to fostering inclusivity and progress will be remembered by those he inspired and worked alongside during his impactful career
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