For more than six decades throughout Tamworth and the North West, Hobbs has been a influential figure in soccer, rugby league, cricket and the school sport arena.

So it was little surprise that he became the latest recipient of the Sportsman’s Warehouse Tamworth Community Sports Award.

A teacher by profession, Hobbs embarked on his sporting journey by chance in 1954.

“I was teaching at Tamworth High School and one of the school house soccer games was looking for a referee,” Hobbs said.

“So I took the whistle and it went from there.”

Despite being ‘76 and three quarters’, Hobbs was still officiating games last year and remains a passionate devotee of the round-ball game.

Asked how many games he has controlled during the years.

“Probably around 1500,” Hobbs said.

“I did six junior grand finals in one day at Belmore Park in 1968.”

That figure was disputed by Bob Barber, who presented him with the award.

“Surely it is a lot more than that,” Barber said.

A fine player, Hobbs spent eight seasons as captain of Hotspurs, all while holding a series of administrative roles off the field.

He later proved a key figure in the establishment of the Tamworth Soccer Referees Association and was in charge of many big matches, including at state league level.

Hobbs spent 51 years as the recorder of the Primary Schools Sports Association athletics recorder, a role replaced ‘by a computer’ in 2014.

He assisted with draws for nearly two decades for the annual Peel Schools Rugby League carnival and was a handy cricketer with Loomberah and Attunga.

Hobbs holds life members with the Tamworth Junior Soccer Association, East Tamworth Soccer Club, Tamworth Soccer Referees Association, Primary Schools Sports Association (Tamworth Zone) and Tamworth Historical Society.

“It’s nice to get this type of recognition,” the humble Hobbs said upon receiving the award.

Barber paid tribute to Hobbs’ sterling contribution to sport.

“There’s no more fitting recipient of this award in my opinion,” he said. “Rod actually put me through my (soccer) referees course and I looked up to him.

“He was a respected referee, respected teacher and a respected figure in sport.”

Hobbs receives $150 in store credit in addition to a special certificate.