Whittlesey referee gets FA award from Prince William at Buckingham Palace
Robert Windle with Prince William at Buckingham Palace. - Credit: Archant
A Fenland football referee received a prestigious award from Prince William at Buckingham Palace on Monday.
Robert Windle, 49, of Whittlesey, was one of 150 volunteers who were honoured at the palace as part of the Football Association’s 150th anniversary celebrations.
Windle, who attended the event with his wife Julie, was presented with an FA Grassroots medal by the Duke of Cambridge and FA chairman Greg Dyke.
He said: “It was a great day. I was the second person to be called forward and was given my medal by Prince William.
“He is a really nice chap and wished me an enjoyable day.
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“The day is something I will never forget and the medal already has pride of place on my mantelpiece.”
The celebrations included the first football match on the palace lawns which was refereed by Howard Webb.
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Windle has created football leagues in North Yorkshire, the under-7 mini-soccer league in Peterborough and several seven-a-side leagues.
He has been a registered referee for 35 years, a level 2 referee tutor, Peterborough Referees’ Association chairman and creator of the Peterborough Select Group of referees.
He received the FA Carlsberg National Award for Outstanding Contribution to Refereeing in August, which was presented to him at Wembley Stadium before the England Scotland game.
