Exhibition to tell story of hugely popular Offaly referee's 50 years

AN exhibition illustrating the story of one of the most popular soccer referees in the Midlands will open at Tullamore Library on Thursday evening.

Local writers' group Wordsmiths is presenting 'Michael Flanagan: 50 Years Referee' with photography by Alex Aubin in the library at 6pm on Thursday, January 4.

Micky Flanagan, a man affectionately known as 'The Red' in soccer circles, is one of the best known and respected football officials.

Now 75, he has hung up his whistle but enforced the rules in Counties and Midlands Schoolboys/Girls League matches for decades, extending his career on one occasion with a knee replacement.

It was in November 2011 he underwent the operation and in an interview a year later when he was back in action the referee said: "I started refereeing when I was still playing, I used to be asked to do Bord na Mona matches and the factory leagues.”

All are welcome to attend the exhibition launch and more information is available by emailing [email protected]