DIR Return Create A Forum - Home
---------------------------------------------------------
RateTheRef
HTML https://ratetheref.createaforum.com
---------------------------------------------------------
*****************************************************
DIR Return to: I Spy Old Refs!
*****************************************************
#Post#: 28994--------------------------------------------------
The end of Supplementary Referees in 1954
DIR By: John Treleven
Date: March 26, 2021, 1:13 pm
---------------------------------------------------------
In 1953-54 there were 40 full referees and 50 supplementary
referees, a total of 90
The supplementary category was dropped for 1954-55 and all 90
were now full referees
There appears to have been a bigger turnover than normal that
season
7 full referees disappeared, 4 were over age at 47, one was 46,
another 45 and the last one 44
13 supplementary referees left too, they all had at least two
seasons left, being aged 35-45. all but two being in their 40s
These 20 (7 & 13) were replaced by linesmen aged 30-42
50 linesmen were dropped, being replaced by 73 "newbies" of whom
one had been a supplementary two seasons before
and looking at their ages it becomes apparent that the
retirement age for supplementaries and linesmen was 45,
rather than the 47 for full referees. The increase in numbers
took the total of F.L. officials past 400 for the first time
post WWII.
#Post#: 29003--------------------------------------------------
Re: The end of Supplementary Referees in 1954
DIR By: Timbo
Date: March 26, 2021, 4:17 pm
---------------------------------------------------------
We established recently in another thread that the supplementary
list was in existence in the late 1960s and early 1970s.
When did it re-appear ?
#Post#: 29006--------------------------------------------------
Re: The end of Supplementary Referees in 1954
DIR By: John Treleven
Date: March 26, 2021, 4:41 pm
---------------------------------------------------------
15 years later, in 1969
#Post#: 29207--------------------------------------------------
Re: The end of Supplementary Referees in 1954
DIR By: John Treleven
Date: April 1, 2021, 1:41 am
---------------------------------------------------------
50 linesmen were dropped, being replaced by 73 "newbies" of whom
one had been a supplementary two seasons before
and looking at their ages it becomes apparent that the
retirement age for supplementaries and linesmen was 45,
rather than the 47 for full referees. The increase in numbers
took the total of F.L. officials past 400 for the first time
post WWII.
#Post#: 29227--------------------------------------------------
Re: The end of Supplementary Referees in 1954
DIR By: John Treleven
Date: April 2, 2021, 3:05 am
---------------------------------------------------------
Looking at the 73 "newbies" for 1954-55
I think I now have DOBs for 59 (missing 12 lines & 2 lines that
went on to be F.L. refs - John Brooks and Arthur Edge)
50 of the 59 were aged 33-39 so it appears an upper age limit
applied
Of the 9 younger ones, 5 were in their early 30s (30-32) and 4
were in their 20s (27-28, no 29s)
Only 3 of the 9 became F.L. refs
The 4 youngest ones were -
David Smith (Stonehouse) 27 (ref)
Bernard Wickham (Trowbridge) 27
Eric Norman (Blackburn) 28 (ref)
Roland Rudd (King's Lynn) 28
#Post#: 29673--------------------------------------------------
Re: The end of Supplementary Referees in 1954
DIR By: Left Field
Date: April 10, 2021, 5:37 am
---------------------------------------------------------
Bernard Wickham was a Football League linesman from 1954 to
1970, one of the longest careers on the line and particularly
remarkable in an era when careers were much shorter and linesmen
had to retire by their early / mid 40s. There is a report
suggesting that he refereed the Arsenal-Sheffield Wednesday game
on 11th January 1969 but it may be mistaken. The appointed
referee was Eric Jennings. There are three possibilities - the
report is correct and he took charge of the whole game after
Eric Jennings was unable to attend; the referee was injured
during the match, he took over and was credited as doing the
whole game; or the reporter misread the programme or teamsheet
and didn't realise the referee was Eric Jennings. I think the
last possibility is the most likely one as indeed it is in most
cases where a linesman is credited with taking charge of a whole
game rather than the appointed referee. Cases where a linesman
definitely took charge of a whole Football League game after the
referee withdrew at very late notice seem to be very rare
although it's possible some instances aren't reported.
#Post#: 29684--------------------------------------------------
Re: The end of Supplementary Referees in 1954
DIR By: John Treleven
Date: April 10, 2021, 8:14 am
---------------------------------------------------------
REFEREE ILL - Just before the kick-off of the Arsenal v.
Sheffield Wednesday match at Highbury, the referee. Mr. E. T.
Jennings. of Stourbridge. was found to have a high temperature
and unfit to referee the match. One of the linesmen. Mr. B. T.
Wickham. of Trowbridge, took over. (Sports Argus 11th Jan 1969)
Referee Eric Jennings, of Stourbridge, was ruled out by flu just
before the match started and yellow flag linesman B. T. Wickham
from Trowbridge substituted adequately. (Sunday Mirror 12th Jan
1969)
(no mention of the sub line)
Wickham was linesman for the F.A. Cup Semi-Final at Villa Park
in 1956 - Manchester City v Tottenham Hotspur
#Post#: 29685--------------------------------------------------
Re: The end of Supplementary Referees in 1954
DIR By: stepan
Date: April 10, 2021, 9:09 am
---------------------------------------------------------
11th January 1969 Arsenal-Sheffield Wednesday 2:0
#Post#: 29686--------------------------------------------------
Re: The end of Supplementary Referees in 1954
DIR By: John Treleven
Date: April 10, 2021, 9:38 am
---------------------------------------------------------
For 1955-56
20 ref's & 40 lines were jettisoned and they were replaced by 70
lines (inc. 1 returning), a overall increase of 10 officials
from 401 to 411
I have DOBs for 57 of the new 70
42 were aged 32-38 with 6 older (39-43) and 9 younger (25-31)
The 6 youngest all became F.L. refs
Jack Taylor 25
Harold Hackney 25
Ken Parr 27
Tom Pallister 27
Francis Clarke 28
Tommy Dawes 28
#Post#: 29687--------------------------------------------------
Re: The end of Supplementary Referees in 1954
DIR By: stepan
Date: April 10, 2021, 9:40 am
---------------------------------------------------------
I wonder why Godfred (Godfrey) Sunderland of Barnsley was
replaced with linesman W. Prescott (Southport) in this match
25.10.1947
*****************************************************
Page 1 of 1