You would be hard pushed to find many octogenarians running around a football pitch on a cold Sunday morning.

Even less likely to find one putting young, feisty footballers in their place.

But for Ernie McGarvey refereeing has been part of his life for so long that, even at the impressive age of 81, he still takes it all in his stride.

Mr McGarvey, who is president of the Belmont Thanet Sunday Football League, says he feels as fit now as he was when he was 60 and has no issues dealing with the odd hooligan.

But now, after an astonishing 64 years refereeing, he is hanging up his whistle once and for all.

“You can’t go on forever,” he said.

“Five weeks ago I was last on the pitch, but I’ve only done a few games this year.

“It’s been my life. It’s an enormous wrench to give it up, but I’m 81.”

Mr McGarvey, of Lenham Close in Broadstairs, fell in love with the game aged just four and passed his refereeing exams in 1952.

He played too, but eventually turned his attention solely to refereeing in 1966/67 soon after moving to Thanet.

He has been refereeing Saturday and Sunday league matches ever since.

“I’ve been trusted for many years,” he said.

“I’ve refereed four generations of players. It’s wonderful when someone tells me I refereed their father.”

"It's been my life. It's an enormous wrench to give it up, but I'm 81" - Ernie McGarvey

Mr McGarvey, who reluctantly admits he is a bit of a Thanet footballing legend – even earning himself the nickname Mr Football Thanet – says his family will be pleased he is finally stopping.

“They have always encouraged me and wanted me to do it,” he said.

“But football is a bit more feisty than it was in the past. There are words used today that were not used when I started out.

“I continued so it’s not hard for me. It’s like driving; if you’ve been driving for years, you just progress with it. I would not want to be a young referee starting out. It’s a different world entirely.

“Even the game is played differently.”

He says he has always received wonderful respect with just the odd problem player.

“All the people I’ve told off or carded would buy me a pint of beer after the game if they met me. I would shake hands with them and they would shake hands with me.

“They don’t give me a rough time.

“You occasionally get a nasty one but I haven’t had any nastiness towards me. My name goes before me. I think it is because of my age to be honest.”

Mr McGarvey, who worked as a computer analyst, has been recognised for his contribution to football, with a number of accolades under his belt, including the long service award in 2013 in the Thanet Sports Awards run by the Kent FA.

He is president of the Thanet Sunday Football League and previously president of the Saturday league, and sits on several committees.

“It’s a sport that if you love it, you love it,” he said.

“I shall still be around the pitches with a couple of friends who have retired.”

He added: “I’m still very fit, I sometimes walk about 10-12 miles a day.

“Believe it or not, I feel as fit as I was when I was 60.”