Bermuda’s football community is mourning the death of former top referee Carlyle “Pee Wee” Crockwell.

The Fifa-certified referee passed away on Sunday after an illness. He was 83.

Mr Crockwell was a long-serving member of the Bermuda Referees Association — one of the first integrated sports organisations in Bermuda — and was regarded as being among the top referees domestically during his heyday with the whistle.

As well as refereeing in Bermuda, Mr Crockwell, whose son Carlyle Jr is a former PHC goalkeeper, also made his mark on the international stage — he officiated in World Cup qualifiers, the Pan American Games and Concacaf-sanctioned matches.

“When you spoke of referees you had to think of Carlyle Crockwell because he knew the rules of football inside out,” said Dennis Wainwright, former Bermuda Referees Association president.

“He knew all of the rules and could elaborate and explain all of them in great detail. Carlyle was the best referee that Bermuda has produced, who took refereeing very seriously. He spent time in the military and very often he brought that discipline into the game.

“He was very consistent and never deviated and people often said that he was over-efficient.

“Carlyle Crockwell’s death is a big loss to Bermuda football and the community as a whole, and my condolences go out to his family.”

Charles Marshall, a past Bermuda Referees Association and Bermuda Football Association president, described Mr Crockwell as “a very strict and disciplined individual who adhered to the rules and kept control of the game”.

He added: “He was a good guy who came along in a time when a person of his capabilities and persuasive powers were needed to keep control of the game.

“Obviously people disagreed with some decisions he made. But that was the way he saw it and that was the way he did it.

“I assisted Carlyle and he assisted me in many, many matches throughout our careers.

“Carlyle, Dave Parsons and myself actually did our first international match as Fifa officials in St John’s Newfoundland.

“It was a World Cup preliminary match between Canada and the United States and those were the days when Bermuda was very active in the referee world.

“Carlyle made his mark on Bermuda soccer history and will certainly be remembered for my lifetime and certainly many, many others, I am sure.

“I am very sad to see him pass on and my condolences go out to his family.”