A REFEREE will be cremated today (Fri Sept 6) in his home town and wearing the strip that has ruled his life for the last five years.

David Thompson died on August 30 four days after suffering severe head injuries in a fall at his girlfriend's home in Stanway Road, Whitefield.

The 35-year-old is believed to have tripped over his dogs as he prepared to take them for a walk. The house's lounge was situated on the first floor and he fell down the stairs.

He was discovered by a friend and rushed to North Manchester General Hospital where he remained unconscious until his death on August 30.

Mr Thompson had been a referee for the last five years and was a popular figure within the Rochdale Sunday and the North West Counties leagues.

On the day of his death, Mr Thompson had been taking part in a work's football match and had returned to his girlfriend's address with a friend.

His partner, Mrs Gill Palfrey, was on holiday in Torremolinos, Spain, with her children when the accident happened.

She said: "A family friend contacted me in Spain and I flew back on the first available flight the day after the accident.

"The paramedics and hospital staff did a great job. Had they not acted so well then David would not have lived as long as he did.

"It gave me the chance to be with him when he died and I am grateful for that."

Mr Thompson's parents requested that his body be return his home town, Spennymoor, County Durham, for today's cremation.

Mrs Palfrey said: "David lived for football and refereeing. He was a manic Sunderland fan but was always busy refereeing to go and watch them.

"It only seems fitting that he is buried in his referee's kit. It was his passion."

An inquest is now expected to be held in the near future to try and establish how Mr Thompson fell down the stairs.

Mr Thompson, who is separated from his first wife, moved to the Bury area about ten years ago and until recently lived in Nuttall Street, Bury.

Over the last few months he was spending more time at Mrs Palfrey's home.

Describing him as a "gently teddy bear", Mrs Palfrey said: "David was so outgoing, full of life and so happy. He was so popular and everyone who met him loved him straight away."

Mr Thompson, the youngest of six siblings, worked as a van driver for a paint mixing company in Rossendale.