In August 1997, Uriah Rennie became the first black man to referee in England’s top division, and 26 years on he remains the only man of colour to have achieved that feat.
‘Uri’, as he was fondly referred to by players and pundits alike, took charge of 175 Premier League matches during a 14-year career, dishing out a total of 543 yellow and 30 red cards. Rennie gained a reputation of being bold, confident and no-nonsense, helping to justify why he is still regarded as one of the best referees the Premier League has ever seen.
Rennie’s pathway to the top began here, in Sheffield, when he started out refereeing in local leagues at the age of 20. He quickly rose through the ranks, operating in semi-professional divisions like the Northern Premier League until 1994.
He was then appointed to the Football League’s official list of referees, completing his inspiring journey to professional football and taking him one step closer to England’s top flight.
Rennie stayed in the Football League until 23 August 1997, when he was appointed to the Premier League fixture Leeds United vs Crystal Palace. A year later he was added to the list of Select Match Officials, consolidating his status as a top-flight referee.
The pinnacle of his career, however, was becoming a FIFA referee in 2000. This meant that he was eligible to take charge of both international fixtures and European competitions, as well as Premier League games.
Rennie retired at the end of the 2007/08 season, ending his lengthy career as a Premier League referee.
Since then, Rennie has shied away from the limelight, returning to Sheffield and becoming active in the Steel City’s grassroots scene. He was made president of local side Hallam FC in 2010, and he continues to support and mentor local referees in South Yorkshire and surrounding areas.
Image Credit: Richard Heathcote via Getty
