Michael Stoddart is the proud recipient of the the Mamie Howden Trophy.

It is presented at the Huddersfield & District FA Annual General Meeting to the referee with the best marks, years of service and appointments accepted.

The 61-year-old Leeds-based official took up the whistle in October 1976 and soon progressed to the West Yorkshire League, where his excellent marks saw him promoted to the Central League linesman’s list.

In 1989 he was appointed to the Football League Assistants list of officials and from 1994, for three years, he acted as an assistant referee in the FA Premier League.

He now officiates in the Huddersfield District League and Huddersfield Works League on Saturdays, while he also referees in the Wakefield & District Sunday League – along with University and Polytechnic midweek matches and Leeds United practice matches.

Stoddart has kept a precise record of all matches he has taken charge of, with the current total standing at 3,674 matches during which he has dismissed 560 players and cautioned 3,326.

His memorable matches include being an Assistant Referee at the FA Sunday Cup, being an assistant referee at the last ever league game at Roker Park between Sunderland and Everton and twice being assistant referee for FA Cup quarter-finals – at Anfield between Liverpool and Arsenal and at Goodison Park between Everton and Newcastle United.

He also was on the panel for a UEFA Cup tie in Copenhagen.

All in all, an illustrious career that has been rewarded with the prestigious Mamie Howden Trophy (presented to Huddersfield FA by the late local football stalwart, George Howden, in memory of his late wife).

Also at the District FA annual meeting, life membership was presented to John Kingdom and Howard Moxon, who have completed 21 years of meritorious service to local football.

Kingdom was a referee for a number of years, officiating in the Huddersfield District League, Huddersfield Works League and the Huddersfield Junior League. He was also deeply involved with Upperthong Junior Football Club and is current Chairman of the Huddersfield & District FA Minor Committee.

Moxon was also a referee for many years and was an official of the Huddersfield Sunday League following involvement with Denby Football Club and Cumberworth Juniors.

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