A REFEREE from Darwen today spoke of his afternoon in the spotlight as Sunderland edged closer to his hometown team's claim to fame.

Tony Leake, 45, of Cranberry Lane, took control during the North East club's 17th consecutive defeat against Millwall on Saturday in an ironic coincidence.

He had heard out about the record days earlier when a work colleague challenged him to name the team which held the most consecutive defeats.

Tony, who has been on the Football League list for nine seasons, said: "Then I realised a Darwen-based referee was taking charge of a game where Sunderland could win and help Darwen keep their record.

"But it went the other way. Sunderland only had one shot on goal and from a refereeing perspective, it was a quiet game."

If Sunderland lose against Preston North End on Saturday they will equal Darwen's 104-year-record.

Kath Marah, Darwen FC chairman, revealed to the Lancashire Evening Telegraph last week how keen the North West Counties League Division Two side was to keep the record as it was a "quirky" piece of their history.

Tony, whose day job is at Lucite International, formerly ICI, in Darwen, said: "It is a point of ridicule, but gives them some identity. It is something newsworthy for them and I am sure I would have got some stick if Sunderland had won and there was a contentious goal."