Referee Retrospective
@refereeretro.bsky.social
Images and information on past referees
Football programmes are often very useful to the referee researcher but could occasionally slip up - the referee profiled here is Peter Walters, not Peter Walker. The linesmen Dave Sadler and Harry Smale were both from Barnstaple. This was from December 1975 & the last of Peter Walters' 11 seasons.
November 9, 2025 at 2:04 PM
Football programmes are often very useful to the referee researcher but could occasionally slip up - the referee profiled here is Peter Walters, not Peter Walker. The linesmen Dave Sadler and Harry Smale were both from Barnstaple. This was from December 1975 & the last of Peter Walters' 11 seasons.
Northern Irish referee Malcolm Wright (Portadown) watches as the Wales keeper collects the ball in a World Cup Qualifier against England at Wembley in January 1973.
November 2, 2025 at 2:23 PM
Northern Irish referee Malcolm Wright (Portadown) watches as the Wales keeper collects the ball in a World Cup Qualifier against England at Wembley in January 1973.
Scottish referee Hugh Williamson (Renfrew) seen during a Hibs-Motherwell game in February 1991.
October 26, 2025 at 2:47 PM
Scottish referee Hugh Williamson (Renfrew) seen during a Hibs-Motherwell game in February 1991.
West German referee Hans-Joachim Weyland and linesmen before the Brazil-England game in the USA Bicentennial Tournament in 1976.
October 20, 2025 at 3:23 PM
West German referee Hans-Joachim Weyland and linesmen before the Brazil-England game in the USA Bicentennial Tournament in 1976.
Profile from 1986 of referee Danny Vickers (Ilford) who was a Football League ref from 1979-1990 (the last season an extension beyond the retirement age of 48). Linesman Jim McMenamin was one of the few who had also been a Scottish League official including running the line in a Celtic-Rangers game
October 15, 2025 at 11:49 AM
Profile from 1986 of referee Danny Vickers (Ilford) who was a Football League ref from 1979-1990 (the last season an extension beyond the retirement age of 48). Linesman Jim McMenamin was one of the few who had also been a Scottish League official including running the line in a Celtic-Rangers game
Unknown referee and assistants with the captains before the Malta-England B match in October 1987.
October 5, 2025 at 3:17 PM
Unknown referee and assistants with the captains before the Malta-England B match in October 1987.
Profile from February 1992 of Scottish referee George Smith (Edinburgh) who was nearing the end of a long and successful career in domestic and international football including refereeing at the 1990 World Cup Finals in Italy.
September 19, 2025 at 12:54 PM
Profile from February 1992 of Scottish referee George Smith (Edinburgh) who was nearing the end of a long and successful career in domestic and international football including refereeing at the 1990 World Cup Finals in Italy.
Profile from 1992 of referee Paul Vanes (Warley) who was a FL ref from 1984 to 1995. This includes his pretty impressive best time for running a marathon.
September 9, 2025 at 12:33 PM
Profile from 1992 of referee Paul Vanes (Warley) who was a FL ref from 1984 to 1995. This includes his pretty impressive best time for running a marathon.
I have a compiled a spreadsheet of all the FL & Cup results for season 1978-1979 with referees & linesmen where known. If you have referee details for any of the gaps please comment below or DM me, your help would be much appreciated: docs.google.com/spreadsheets...
1978-1979 season - results and referees for fl matches and cups.xlsx
docs.google.com
August 31, 2025 at 1:56 PM
I have a compiled a spreadsheet of all the FL & Cup results for season 1978-1979 with referees & linesmen where known. If you have referee details for any of the gaps please comment below or DM me, your help would be much appreciated: docs.google.com/spreadsheets...
Profile from May 1963 of referee Jack Taylor (Wolverhampton). Although this was early in his career he had already reached the FIFA list and went on to be one of the most famous English referees and probably the most remembered from the 1970s or earlier. He retired in 1977 after 19 seasons.
August 24, 2025 at 2:01 PM
Profile from May 1963 of referee Jack Taylor (Wolverhampton). Although this was early in his career he had already reached the FIFA list and went on to be one of the most famous English referees and probably the most remembered from the 1970s or earlier. He retired in 1977 after 19 seasons.
Line-ups for a Division 1 game between Arsenal & Crystal Palace on Easter Monday in 1970 but seemingly something strange with the referee and linesmen appointments....
August 16, 2025 at 11:50 AM
Line-ups for a Division 1 game between Arsenal & Crystal Palace on Easter Monday in 1970 but seemingly something strange with the referee and linesmen appointments....
Profile from September 1999 of referee Frazer Stretton (Nottingham), a Football League ref from 1995 to 2004 and with distinctive interests in heavy rock and attending dog shows.
August 9, 2025 at 11:12 AM
Profile from September 1999 of referee Frazer Stretton (Nottingham), a Football League ref from 1995 to 2004 and with distinctive interests in heavy rock and attending dog shows.
The original members of Division 4 in 1958. Bradford refers to Bradford Park Avenue, not City. They are one of eleven clubs no longer in the Football League but one is now in the Premier League & another made the Championship play-offs last season.
August 7, 2025 at 3:13 PM
The original members of Division 4 in 1958. Bradford refers to Bradford Park Avenue, not City. They are one of eleven clubs no longer in the Football League but one is now in the Premier League & another made the Championship play-offs last season.
Profile from March 1986 of referee Eddie Scales (Ware, Hertfordshire). A League referee from 1982 this was one of his last games - he was injured in this match and replaced by linesman Paul Alcock, later a long-serving FL & Premier League ref. The other linesman P Crossley is not the future FL ref.
August 6, 2025 at 11:35 AM
Profile from March 1986 of referee Eddie Scales (Ware, Hertfordshire). A League referee from 1982 this was one of his last games - he was injured in this match and replaced by linesman Paul Alcock, later a long-serving FL & Premier League ref. The other linesman P Crossley is not the future FL ref.
Portugeuse referee Jose Rosa dos Santos seen during the Republic of Ireland's 2-0 win over Malta in a World Cup Qualifier in May 1989.
August 2, 2025 at 11:16 AM
Portugeuse referee Jose Rosa dos Santos seen during the Republic of Ireland's 2-0 win over Malta in a World Cup Qualifier in May 1989.
Romanian referee Nicolae Rainea with the captains before the Ajax-Nottingham Forest European Cup Semi-Final 2nd Leg in April 1980. Ajax won 1-0 but Forest had won the first leg 2-0 so won 2-1 on aggregate.
July 22, 2025 at 12:32 PM
Romanian referee Nicolae Rainea with the captains before the Ajax-Nottingham Forest European Cup Semi-Final 2nd Leg in April 1980. Ajax won 1-0 but Forest had won the first leg 2-0 so won 2-1 on aggregate.
Line-ups for a Brighton-Ipswich game in May 1991 with a rather surprising assistant! This was a misprint for Steve Pearce of Hemel Hempstead but Stuart Pearce's elder brother Ray had earlier been a Football League linesman. This may also have been the last game on the line for Graham Poll.
July 18, 2025 at 3:24 PM
Line-ups for a Brighton-Ipswich game in May 1991 with a rather surprising assistant! This was a misprint for Steve Pearce of Hemel Hempstead but Stuart Pearce's elder brother Ray had earlier been a Football League linesman. This may also have been the last game on the line for Graham Poll.
A letter from January 1984 calling for full-time referees, supported by Jimmy Greaves who also notes it's not a new idea. Full-time referees have since been introduced but the criticism of them has not abated and maybe they will always be the "fall guys" for players, managers and fans.
July 12, 2025 at 3:34 PM
A letter from January 1984 calling for full-time referees, supported by Jimmy Greaves who also notes it's not a new idea. Full-time referees have since been introduced but the criticism of them has not abated and maybe they will always be the "fall guys" for players, managers and fans.
Profile & picture from 1970 of referee Danny Lyden (Birmingham). He was a Football League referee from 1963 & became a FIFA ref in 1970 but unusually just for one season. He resigned from the list in December 1971. His most notable game was Colchester's famous FA Cup win over Leeds in February 1971.
July 4, 2025 at 10:59 AM
Profile & picture from 1970 of referee Danny Lyden (Birmingham). He was a Football League referee from 1963 & became a FIFA ref in 1970 but unusually just for one season. He resigned from the list in December 1971. His most notable game was Colchester's famous FA Cup win over Leeds in February 1971.
Line-ups for a Kent Cup game between Margate and Gillingham in March 1963. Although Stanley Lover never became a Football League ref he was a FL linesman for 12 years & very influential in the teaching & training of referees including writing books. Linesman Mike Taylor did later become a FL ref.
June 29, 2025 at 11:37 AM
Line-ups for a Kent Cup game between Margate and Gillingham in March 1963. Although Stanley Lover never became a Football League ref he was a FL linesman for 12 years & very influential in the teaching & training of referees including writing books. Linesman Mike Taylor did later become a FL ref.
Referee John Lovatt (Crewe) in the background during a Cardiff-Portsmouth Division 3 game in October 1982 - both clubs went on to be promoted. John Lovatt had 8 seasons as a Football League ref (1979-1987) but that came after 11 as a linesman (1968-1979) so a very long FL career altogether.
June 25, 2025 at 1:07 PM
Referee John Lovatt (Crewe) in the background during a Cardiff-Portsmouth Division 3 game in October 1982 - both clubs went on to be promoted. John Lovatt had 8 seasons as a Football League ref (1979-1987) but that came after 11 as a linesman (1968-1979) so a very long FL career altogether.
Portuguese referee Francisco Marquez Lobo with his linesmen and the captains before the England-Italy friendly game in November 1973. This was Bobby Moore's last appearance for England.
June 16, 2025 at 10:04 AM
Portuguese referee Francisco Marquez Lobo with his linesmen and the captains before the England-Italy friendly game in November 1973. This was Bobby Moore's last appearance for England.
Referee profiles don't often give ages but this one of David Letts (Basingstoke) from November 1982 does. One of many police officers to reach the list he was a Football League referee from 1979 to 1985, the final two seasons being based in Aldershot.
June 13, 2025 at 12:51 PM
Referee profiles don't often give ages but this one of David Letts (Basingstoke) from November 1982 does. One of many police officers to reach the list he was a Football League referee from 1979 to 1985, the final two seasons being based in Aldershot.
Scottish referee Rollo Kyle (Bishopbriggs) seen during the Airdrie-Motherwell Scottish FA Cup Semi-Final in April 1975.
June 6, 2025 at 3:20 PM
Scottish referee Rollo Kyle (Bishopbriggs) seen during the Airdrie-Motherwell Scottish FA Cup Semi-Final in April 1975.
French referee George Konrath seen in the England-Switzerland friendly in September 1977.
June 1, 2025 at 3:46 PM
French referee George Konrath seen in the England-Switzerland friendly in September 1977.