Norman Franklin refereed a football match between the regulars from the Rovers Return and The Flying Horse pubs in October 1969. Prior to the match, Len Fairclough tried to gain his favour by inviting him for a drink in the Rovers dressing room at half-time but Franklin wouldn't be bought, insisting that the match would be fair. The next day he called into the Rovers to get the money for the football used in the match as he owned a sports shop and charged Cyril Turpin the trade price of 39/11 telling him it was the 18th ball he’d sold that season.