I'll be relying heavily over the next couple of weeks on Rob Hopley and Mike Lea, who know the club inside out and have been through good times as well as bad," Lynch added. His determination, and his sense of loyalty to his blanket comrades, saw him through, however, even the hardest times. We are looking for someone who has the experience of playing and managing at Evo-Stik level or above,” he said. “But we are keeping an open mind.” Another highlight of Kevin Lynch’s career as a domestic football speaker and ref was his appointment to referee the 2000 AutoWindscreen's Shield Final between Stoke City and Bristol City. Lynch is remembered for his impressive abilities to manage often tumultuous situations and has been involved in a number of high profile and notorious on the field controversies, including a 21-man brawl in a game between Norwich City and Crystal Palace! Kevin also broke the Football League record for most send-offs when he sent five players, four of which were from the same team, off in a single game! He would say 'over the season, all those decisions, really even themselves out because that's the top and that's the bottom'." Well, if they are Ferguson’s true feelings, he certainly fooled us all.

It all adds competition for places, which is a good thing. Nobody can afford to be complacent, because there are lads here who can come in and make an impression.” In the Free State elections, in June, Kevin stood as a candidate in the Waterford constituency, collecting 3,337 first preferences before being eliminated – after Labour Party and Fianna Fail candidates – on the fifth count, with 3,753 votes. KEVIN LYNCH described Marine’s performance in their 2-0 defeat at home to North Ferriby United on Saturday as “one of the worst all season”.O'Doherty hit four of Slaughtneil's closing six scores - including a late score from play - with O'Mianain also rounding off his final display by notching his third point. He officiated on a variety of club matches and boasts no less than three appearances at the legendary Wembley Stadium, including officiating the 1989 FA Charity Shield, the 1882 4 th Division Play-Off final and also acted as the fourth official for the Football League’s Centenary Challenge Match between Sunderland and Liverpool. There was the time he bowed to the crowd and started conducting the chanting in a Leyton Orient-Brentford game, a spontaneous, humorous act but one with the potential to incite a riot according to the football authorities, who stopped just short of suspending him. Most notoriously, he sent off five players in a fractious game in December 1997 between Wigan Athletic and Bristol Rovers, still a Football League record. Midfielder Thomas Moore donned the gloves on Tuesday, but Lynch will call upon the talented Williams for this weekend’s clash with Hendesford Town, and has no doubts about the youngster’s pedigree.

Kevin’s team, St. Canice’s, was beaten 0-9 to 0-3 by Sarsfields of Ballerin, and he is described in the match programme as “a strong player and a useful hurler”. Within a short space of time after this final, Kevin would be in jail, as would two of his team mates on that day, Eunan Brolly and Sean Coyle. QUALITIESIt is going to take a little time to work with the players, access them and get their fitness levels to where they need to be to play the football I like to play. Following a year on remand in Crumlin Road jail, Belfast, he was tried and sentenced to ten years in December 1977, immediately joining the blanket men in H3, and eventually finding himself sharing a cell with his Dungiven friend and comrade, Liam McCloskey, continuing to do so until he took part in the thirty-man four-day fast which coincided with the end of the original seven-man hunger strike last December. LONG KESH

Former referee Kevin Lynch once extracted a congratulations from former Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson after a verbal collision during a match. Kevin Lynch officiated across the Football League during his refereeing career in the 1980s and 90s, and was even a linesman for the UEFA Cup Final between Torino and Ajax in 1992. Burren edged Clonduff in the second semi-final at the Newry venue. Clonduff led 0-8 to 0-7 but Donal O'Hare levelled before Rian Treanor won it from the free. Spending the majority of his career referring Association Football, Kevin Lynch spent the final eight years of his career referring for the Football League, he acted as the assistant referee at the semi-finals of both the FA and Football League Cups for almost a decade and held many appointments overseas. He worked as a football speaker and assistant referee for FIFA for a number of years and counts overseeing the 1992 UEFA Cup final between Torino and Ajax amongst his career highlights.

We never stop searching for players,” said Lynch. “Whether that is in the Liverpool County Premier League or the Blue Square North, anyone who can enhance our team, and who has the right attitude, is welcome. Kevin Lynch was always popular amongst fans and spectators, his work as a sports speaker and referee in the Football League has garnered him equal praise and criticism, but he will forever be fondly remembered by British football fans. Notably bowing to the crowd at a Football League match in the last fifteen years of his career Lynch was reprimanded by officials and applauded by fans when he not only joined in but conducted a stadium full of singing fans during a match between Leyton Orient and Brentford. Big name clubs Werder Bremen and Schalke 04were the somewhat surprising relegated teams last campaign, with the two clubs replaced by VfL Bochumand Spielvereinigung Greuther Fürth who are making just their second appearance in the German top flight. And if his performance on Saturday is anything to go by, then he will be a big influence in other areas as well. I’m pleased we have signed him.” Just before the match was due to start his opponent asked him how many previous fights he’d had. With suppressed humour, Kevin answered “thirty-three” so convincingly that his opponent, overcome with nervous horror, couldn’t be persuaded into the ring.

Appearing to be almost perturbed at Kevin Lynch's temerity in notching a score, Slaughtneil still had time fire over three straight points before the interval - with two of them coming from Rogers, who was operating in the full-forward line despite wearing the number eight shirt. To get more sport stories from Daily Star delivered straight to your inbox sign up to one of our free newsletters here . And the Mariners boss believes a repeat against struggling Whitby Town this weekend could see his side ruled out of the Evo-Stik Premier Division promotion race. I used to get on well with Sir Alex Ferguson,” Lynch said to the Under The Cosh podcast. "First time I met him I was on the touchline running the line.

How to book Kevin Lynch for your event

Former referee and football speaker Kevin Lynch worked in professional sports for more than thirty years, officiating at some of the most high profile and notorious matches of the 1990’s. Retiring in 2000 Lynch now works as an after dinner speaker, sharing stories of his time on the pitch, the famous names he has worked with the controversial calls he has made. Nowadays, militant nationalists have enforced their right to march, but the RUC still attempt to break up protests and the flying of the tricolour (not in itself ‘illegal’ in the six counties) is considered taboo by the loyalist bigots of the RUC. Whether it was his infamous glances at his watch to instigate 'Fergie time' or his verbal tirades at referees, fourth officials, or lines-people, the Scot was an ominous figure during his time at United. However, the legendary United manager once met his match in an equally confident and verbal Lynch.