Respected local assistant referee Gareth Eakin has made a full recovery after 'collapsing' due to the wintry weather conditions at Inver Park on Saturday afternoon.
Eakin required medical attention after suffering a dizzy spell on the brink of half-time during Larne’s 1-0 win over Warrenpoint Town in the Danske Bank Premiership.
The popular FIFA official had to be replaced by fourth official Glenn Buchanan who ran the line for the second-half as strong winds battered the East Antrim venue.
Match referee Evan Boyce said Eakin, who has been an international assistant referee for almost 15 years, was “back to his usual self” by the end of the afternoon.
He also thanked officials at Larne Football Club and medical staff for attending to the long-serving 'linesman' whose brief ill-health caused a delay in the second-half kicking off.
“Gareth received swift medical attention at half-time due to the effects of the weather conditions in the first-half," said Boyce.
“Our fourth official Glenn Buchanan stepped in for the second-half and I’m happy to say Gareth was his usual self by the time the game ended.
“He was extremely well looked after and we’re all appreciative of the help provided by the medics and everyone at Larne Football Club.”
Eakin was recently presented with a trophy to mark the fact that 2020 is his 14th year as an international assistant referee.
One of his highest profile appointments was running the line during a 0-0 draw between England and the Republic of Ireland in Dublin in 2015.
Larne assistant boss Tim McCann told Radio Ulster: “A few minutes before half-time the linesman collapsed and we went over to help him up.
“He was fine but said he was feeling dizzy. He was ice cold and looked dizzy and pale. Medics came in at half-time and that’s why the restart was delayed for 10 minutes or so.
“There were gale force winds and the conditions were incredibly difficult.”
Larne won it with a late penalty from Andy Mitchell, the midfielder’s first goal for the club since joining from Linfield in the January transfer window.
It delivered a sixth win in all competitions for Tiernan Lynch’s men and eased them to within two points of Crusaders and Cliftonville in fourth and fifth respectively.
