93-year-old soccer referee credits morning porridge for his matchday stamina
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Cheerful 93-year-old referee Frank Foster still hands out red and yellow cards and runs the pitch three times a week on behalf of the local football association.
The great-grandfather, who took charge of approximately 5,500 matches during his 46-year refereeing career, owes his longevity and match-day endurance to a lifetime of healthy habits and basic nutrition, SWNS news agency reported.
Foster attributes his remarkable fitness to the solid wartime rations he was given in his youth, which he notes enabled him to grow up eating “healthy foods” rather than “sweets and cakes”.
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Years later, matchday preparations are still supplemented by healthy nutrition; She always starts her morning with a bowl of oatmeal, cereal, or marmalade on toast to give her the energy to last 90 minutes.
Food keeps him active enough to referee men’s, women’s and children’s matches; He says this hobby will never blow the final whistle.
Frank Foster started refereeing in 1980. Today he still officiates men’s, women’s and children’s matches three times a week. (SWNS)
His sharp intelligence and authoritative presence on the field are as strong as his physical endurance.
Foster, a military veteran who passed the referee exam with a 98% score in 1980, relies on old-school discipline to keep matches under control, SWNS reported.
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He believes modern elite officials are too “soft” and allow player antics to ruin the sport. He lays down strict ground rules before kick-off to maintain order and prevent players from moving around. He has no patience for intimidation or histrionics. “Those who come downstairs looking like they’ve been shot, I book them too,” he said.
He is equally uncompromising when teams try to force him on the court.
Frank Foster photographed before becoming a referee. (Frank Foster/SWNS)
“I certainly wouldn’t let them surround me,” Foster told SWNS.
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“I would tell the players, ‘Stay where you are’ and ‘If you move another inch I’ll give you a yellow card.’ You need to stamp your authority and let them know who is in control.”
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He also eschews the modern stress of video review games, which he believes create unnecessary “aggression and frustration” due to microscopic offside calls, adding: “I think it spoils the game.”
Foster added that his longevity was due to wartime rations and that he avoided sweets. (SWNS)
“Sometimes it’s just the player’s toe that’s offside, it’s ridiculous.”
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Foster says he “never thought” he’d still be doing this job at age 93, but he’s making the most of his gift.
He keeps his jersey freshly laundered and makes sure it’s “clean and tidy” when he steps out onto the field.
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Foster, from South Yorkshire, England, also scrubs his black Adidas boots after every match and makes sure they are “nice and clean” for his next game.
