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#Post#: 21466--------------------------------------------------
Roger Kirkpatrick - Obituary
DIR By: John Treleven
Date: September 30, 2020, 8:49 am
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Leicester Mercury 12th November 2012
Referee Roger Kirkpatrick dies, aged 81
A "larger than life" character who refereed some of the biggest
names in British football in the 1960s and 70s has died, aged
81.
Roger Kirkpatrick was known by players as Mr. Pickwick, after
the Charles Dickens character, because of his stout appearance
and bushy sideburns.
He refereed top class football from 1966 to 1979, officiating at
games featuring players such as Manchester United stars Denis
Law and George Best.
Law asked him to officiate at his testimonial against Dutch club
Ajax.
Roger once sent off fiery Manchester City forward Mike Summerbee
– and said the striker sought him out in the referee's room
after the match to apologise.
Kirkpatrick, of Narborough Road South, Leicester, featured in
the 1978-79 season opening titles for B.B.C. Match of the Day
programme and it was said he could run backwards faster than he
could forwards.
His son Mark said: "If there is such a thing, Dad was a well
liked referee. I'm not saying he got all his decisions right,
but the big thing was he was respected by the players. He didn't
swear. as he used to say 'if I swear, how can I pull up the
players for swearing?" "Dad was a showman, he was aware of his
nickname. He could have cut off his sideburns, but he chose to
keep them. Me and my brother got to go to all the games. I
remember once asking Alan Ball if he was a footballer and
sitting two seats away from George Best. We always had
footballers around and Brian Clough and Peter Taylor were big
friends of the family. He was paid 21 guineas a game, plus
expenses every weekend. You had to do it for the love of the
sport. He enjoyed it and made the most of it."
Mr Kirkpatrick became a referee at 17 before joining the Fleet
Air Arm where he continued refereeing for the Royal Navy. He
also played cricket and rugby for the service. He met his wife
Elizabeth, a Wren, and the couple celebrated their diamond
wedding anniversary last year.
Mark said: "He was known as something of a disciplinarian. He
wouldn't take back chat – he would come down on you like a ton
of bricks. He had an air of authority and a big, booming voice.
I think he had something missing in the refereeing world today.
I don't think there is the same respect from the players these
days."
Leicester City ambassador Alan Birchenall has fond memories of
Kirkpatrick. "I was playing for Chelsea and the pitch was a bit
of a quagmire. Whenever Roger had made a decision, he ran off
backwards at 100m.p.h. I "accidentally" put out my right foot
and he fell over. He called me over and asked me if I had done
it on purpose. I said "no" and he told me if he'd thought I had
I would have been off. The story always brought a smile to his
face. He was a lovely bloke and a top referee."
Mr Kirkpatrick was also a successful businessman, as a director
of companies making knitwear and in the motor trade. In later
years, he achieved considerable success in another sport,
serving as Leicester Bowls Club president, Leicestershire county
president and Midlands Counties president.
He and his wife played bowls for England and he was an England
Bowling Association assessor for 10 years.
He died at home last week, following a long illness.
As well as his wife and son Mark, he also leaves another son,
Paul, and grandchildren Leon, Alex, Holly and Rosie.
#Post#: 21489--------------------------------------------------
Re: Roger Kirkpatrick - Obituary
DIR By: Acme Thunderer
Date: September 30, 2020, 3:26 pm
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There was only ever one Roger Kirkpatrick and we shall never see
the likes of him again at the top levels of football. I saw him
on two or three occasions at Selhurst Park, and we always looked
forward to his 'showbiz' style of refereeing, with outrageous
gestures, and which always began as he sprinted onto the field
at 100mph to roars of approval from the crowd (in days long
before the players and officials came out together). On one
occasion, I think it was at Charlton, it was said he sprinted on
to the field and then had to limp off back to the dressing room
with a pulled muscle. As his son said, he didn't get all his
decisions right, but we loved his style of refereeing
nevertheless. A true showman was Roger and I for one love seeing
him again on YouTube.
#Post#: 21492--------------------------------------------------
Re: Roger Kirkpatrick - Obituary
DIR By: Hendo
Date: September 30, 2020, 4:38 pm
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--- Quote from: Acme Thunderer link ---
>
> There was only ever one Roger Kirkpatrick and we shall never
see the likes of him again at the top levels of football. I saw
him on two or three occasions at Selhurst Park, and we always
looked forward to his 'showbiz' style of refereeing, with
outrageous gestures, and which always began as he sprinted onto
the field at 100mph to roars of approval from the crowd (in days
long before the players and officials came out together). On one
occasion, I think it was at Charlton, it was said he sprinted on
to the field and then had to limp off back to the dressing room
with a pulled muscle. As his son said, he didn't get all his
decisions right, but we loved his style of refereeing
nevertheless. A true showman was Roger and I for one love seeing
him again on YouTube.
>
--- End Quote ---
A total one off who reffed the games as he saw them, not one of
the many automatons we see today
#Post#: 22160--------------------------------------------------
Re: Roger Kirkpatrick - Obituary
DIR By: guest42
Date: October 20, 2020, 3:56 am
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Some good footage of his unique "style"
HTML https://twitter.com/1968Tv/status/1236574581319663616?s=20
#Post#: 22162--------------------------------------------------
Re: Roger Kirkpatrick - Obituary
DIR By: reflector
Date: October 20, 2020, 4:33 am
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Gosh, I'd forgotton quite how eccentric and flamboyant he was.
But for all that , he was indeed a very good and well respected
referee. Makes Mike Dean seem utterly normal !
#Post#: 22202--------------------------------------------------
Re: Roger Kirkpatrick - Obituary
DIR By: Acme Thunderer
Date: October 20, 2020, 2:10 pm
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Thanks BAFRA, there was another lovely clip - possibly on
Twitter again - showing Roger doing one of his famous sprints
with a broad grin on his face. It appeared on the old ISOR and
it would be lovely to see it again. Showmanship at its best I
might suggest!
#Post#: 28829--------------------------------------------------
Re: Roger Kirkpatrick - Obituary
DIR By: keith h
Date: March 21, 2021, 3:53 am
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I was a keen supporter of Cambridge City in the old Southern
League and we often had Roger before he gained his promotion.
When we had him we enjoyed his performances more than the actual
players!
#Post#: 28877--------------------------------------------------
Re: Roger Kirkpatrick - Obituary
DIR By: olddeagle
Date: March 21, 2021, 6:00 pm
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--- Quote from: keith h link ---
>
> I was a keen supporter of Cambridge City in the old Southern
League and we often had Roger before he gained his promotion.
When we had him we enjoyed his performances more than the actual
players!
>
--- End Quote ---
We used to enjoy his appearances at Bedford Town games too. The
fun started right from the off as he sprinted on to the pitch
and screetched to a halt on the centre spot before blowing a
loud blast to alert the captains for the toss. I believe he was
one of the midlands based officials who would have been on the
Central Alliance and possibly Midland League before the Southern
League greatly expanded in 1958 to include several ex ML clubs
(Boston, Wisbech, Corby etc) and some from the Birmingham League
and needed more officials from that area. His first SL season
was 58/9 but it seemed to take him a long time to progress
further, perhaps because the hierarchy distrusted his flamboyant
style.
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