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.
Harold Davey did indeed move around quite a bit earlier in his FL career although almost always around Nottinghamshire aside from the 1967-1968 season in Verwood in Dorset. He worked in the building trade which might have influenced the moves. This is a very good profile of him from Jan 1972.
September 4, 2025 at 3:40 PM
Harold Davey did indeed move around quite a bit earlier in his FL career although almost always around Nottinghamshire aside from the 1967-1968 season in Verwood in Dorset. He worked in the building trade which might have influenced the moves. This is a very good profile of him from Jan 1972.
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.
In this picture from the 1971 FA Cup Final not just referee Norman Burtenshaw but linesman J. Bell of Newcastle had FA Three Lions badges. The other linesman Gordon Kew presumably could have worn this badge but instead wore the AFLRL badge although he refereed the 1974 Final with one.
July 28, 2025 at 5:48 PM
In this picture from the 1971 FA Cup Final not just referee Norman Burtenshaw but linesman J. Bell of Newcastle had FA Three Lions badges. The other linesman Gordon Kew presumably could have worn this badge but instead wore the AFLRL badge although he refereed the 1974 Final with one.
These pictures from 1975 are a good summary of the badges used back then. The second indicates when the Three Lions badge was used and it could be worn by an official involved in the Final of an FA competition or a game at Wembley such as the Charity (now Community) Shield.
July 27, 2025 at 11:03 AM
These pictures from 1975 are a good summary of the badges used back then. The second indicates when the Three Lions badge was used and it could be worn by an official involved in the Final of an FA competition or a game at Wembley such as the Charity (now Community) Shield.
This picture of Ken Walmsley from 1985 reinforces your points. We can also see the recently discussed FA Three Lions badge reflecting his role in major FA games.
July 26, 2025 at 10:13 PM
This picture of Ken Walmsley from 1985 reinforces your points. We can also see the recently discussed FA Three Lions badge reflecting his role in major FA games.
While the web can be useful when researching refs it's far from infallible. Often the best guide are programme profiles which because they came from the Football League were strictly factual & very accurate for names, dates and international status. This one is from Keith Styles' last season...
July 24, 2025 at 4:17 PM
While the web can be useful when researching refs it's far from infallible. Often the best guide are programme profiles which because they came from the Football League were strictly factual & very accurate for names, dates and international status. This one is from Keith Styles' last season...
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.
I'm not sure if this is the one you mean but someone on Twitter a few years ago posted this picture of Romanian referee Otto Anderco wearing all-yellow in the Israel-Scotland World Cup qualifier in February 1981.
June 28, 2025 at 3:30 PM
I'm not sure if this is the one you mean but someone on Twitter a few years ago posted this picture of Romanian referee Otto Anderco wearing all-yellow in the Israel-Scotland World Cup qualifier in February 1981.