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#Post#: 57529--------------------------------------------------
Charles Henry Nicholls (Plymouth)
DIR By: John Treleven
Date: December 30, 2022, 12:05 pm
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Charles Henry Nicholls 22.08.1925 - 17.06.2021
The Plymouth born referee who took charge of the game when
Brazilian football legend Pele played at Home Park in 1973
has passed away at the age of 95. Charles Nicholls officiated
the friendly between Plymouth Argyle and Pele's club side
Santos in March 1973, one of the most famous matches in the
club's history.
HTML https://www.plymouthherald.co.uk/sport/football/plymouth-man-who-refereed-pele-5545410<br
/>(to see the picture)
This picture was taken at Home Park in 2015 and shows Plymouth's
three Football League referees from the past 50 years -
Lee Swabey (second left), Alan Crickmore (third left) and
Charles Nicholls, who has passed away this week.
Mike Richards, of the Devon F.A., is on the far left.
The Pilgrims beat their Brazilian opponents 3-2 in front of a
crowd of close to 40,000, (37,639)
with goals from Mike Dowling, Derek Rickard and Jimmy Hinch,
while Pele scored once for Santos.
Nicholls, who was a Football League referee from 1966 to 1973,
was also involved in another memorable occasion at Home Park.
He was one of the linesmen when a Football League representative
side beat their Irish League counterparts 12-0 in September
1966.
Seven members of England's 1966 World Cup winning team were
involved in that match, which attracted a crowd of more than
35,000.
Nicholls' daughter, Val Bellamy, told Plymouth Live: "Dad ran
the line for that game and there was a reception in the
Guildhall after,
and the actual Jules Rimet Trophy - the World Cup at the time -
was there. "I was only 14 at the time but I went to that game
and to the reception.
It was something that was another feather in dad's cap that he
ran the line for that game with the World Cup team."
As for refereeing against Santos, Val added: "He felt that there
was no higher honour he could have got than to be asked to do
that game.
"He also went out to referee a Real Madrid game. Of course, in
those days officials didn't get paid for anything.
He was given so many tankards my mother used to moan. But for
that game he was given a watch by Real Madrid
and he has worn that watch until his death. It was his proudest
possession, I think. Whenever he spoke to anybody
who had any interest in football he very proudly pulled up his
shirt cuff and displayed this Real Madrid watch."
Argyle posted a story about the passing of Nicholls on their
official club website today -
Plymouth born, Charlie is forever associated with one of the
most famous matches in Argyle history,
officiating the 3-2 victory over Pele’s Santos in March 1973.
Nearly 40,000 fans were packed into Home Park for the match of a
lifetime,
and Nicholls would officiate another international fixture at
the Theatre of Greens a few weeks later, as England amateurs
defeated Finland 3-0 in front of just shy of 1,500 people.
A regular visitor to Home Park in later years, Charlie joined
two other Plymothian Football League officials for a pitch-side
photo in 2015,
standing alongside 80s referee Alan Crickmore and current EFL
referee Lee Swabey, who made his league debut the year that
photo was taken.
Charles Henry Nicholls
Aged 95, passed away peacefully on 17 June 2021. (born 22 August
1925)
Dear Dad of Val and son-in-law Keith (Bellamy) and beloved
Grandad of Dawn and Shane.
He was the first appointed Football League Referee from
Plymouth, his football stories were legendary
and in later years he enjoyed success as a bowler and Club
President.
We are all so very proud of him and he will be sadly missed.
Rest in peace Dad/Grandad, the final whistle has gone and you
had a wonderful game
Funeral service will be held on Tuesday 6th of July 2021 at
Efford Crematorium at 12.15pm.
Family flowers only.
Donations in memory of Charles can be made online at
www.charlesnicholls.muchloved.com
and will benefit the work of the Plymouth Argyle Community
Trust.
All enquiries to; Co-op Funeral Care Crownhill, Plymouth PL6 5AJ
01752 303830
Charles sadly passed away on the 17th June 2021 at Derriford
Hospital aged 95.
A much loved husband to Betty and forever in my heart.
Father, Stepfather, grandfather and great grandfather.
Charles will be missed by all that knew him with memories to
treasure.
Family flowers only.
Donations to Plymouth Argyle Community Trust
Charles passed away 17th June 2021 aged 95.
Charles was a stepdad to Stephen, Pauline, Jerry and Louise
along with our partners,
Charles was also a caring grandfather and great grandfather.
Always in our thoughts
Argyle 3, Santos 2
Friendly: Wednesday, March 14, 1973
Just a friendly, but for 37,639 Plymothians this was an
extraordinary night. Santos, one of the world's leading football
clubs, graced Home Park as part of their international tour. For
young and old alike, this was a chance of a lifetime - to be
able to see the greatest footballer ever, Edson Arantes do
Nascimento, otherwise known as Pele. Then nearing the end of his
career, he had lost none of his grace and skill. Never before
(or probably again) would Home Park witness such a man.
Unknown to the massive and expectant crowd, the Santos players
were ordered to remain in their dressing room whilst their
officials made a last minute demand for £2,500 more than their
contract provided. Seeing this as little short of blackmail,
Argyle's chairman, Robert Daniel, refused. Santos's response was
simple, 'no money, no match'. Minutes before kick-off, and with
the excitement mounting outside, Daniel had little choice and
reluctantly agreed to pay.
The Home Park terraces bulging at the seams, although the
science of turf management had a little way to go in those days.
And what about those perimeter seats! To cater for the less
able, individual folding wooden seats were placed on the running
track along the whole length of the boundary fence. I'd
forgotten about this practice - can you imagine it today?
An hour before the kick-off thousands were already thronging the
terraces and thousands were milling around outside. Home Park
had never witnessed anything quite like it before. After all, it
was only a friendly. But this was a once in a lifetime occasion
to see the world’s greatest footballer turning the clock back a
few seasons, and it seemed as if every football fan in the West
Country wanted to be there on the night Pele came to Plymouth.
Unfortunately, his Santos management wasn’t quite so
enthusiastic about gracing the occasion with their team’s
presence. For the fans queuing up to get into the ground never
realised until they read the next morning’s newspapers how close
this box office hit was to being called off just half-an-hour
before the kick-off. Santos officials wanted their share of the
gate proceeds in hard currency before they took the field. But,
after scrutinising the sell-out match returns, they demanded
£2,500 more than the signed contracts provided. They were
suspicious of the official crowd figures. ‘No money, no match’
they threatened and walked out on the negotiations after the
club chairman, Robert Daniel, refused to concede to their
blackmail demands.
Mr Daniel had second thoughts, however, when he looked out of
the boardroom window on a capacity crowd waiting anxiously for
the match to start and wondered how he could tell them at this
late stage that the whole match was off. He reluctantly agreed
to pay the ransom under protest but refused to hand over the
extra cash until the teams attended an after-match reception at
the Holiday Inn. With the match finally under way Mike Dowling
needed just three minutes to lift the roof off the Santos net
with a blistering drive. Derek Rickard promptly made it two with
a deft header which Santos claimed was offside. Their goalkeeper
raced half the length of the pitch to argue with a linesman.
When Claudio later fumbled the ball Jimmy Hinch accepted an easy
chance to make it three. Argyle players were taking it all much
too seriously for the temperamental Brazilians who were so upset
that they threatened to call it all off again if the referee
wasn’t replaced at half-time.
Pele, the ambassador, put his diplomatic skills to work to
restore calm in the dressing room corridors. He then returned to
the pitch to express the mesmerising talents the fans were still
waiting to see. His close-control dribbling, passing and
shooting sparked a Santos revival. But his only goal was from
the penalty spot. Edu swerved through to seize a second goal. At
the final whistle hundreds of youngsters swarmed on to the
ground. The prize of Pele’s shirt went to Johnny Hore but he and
the rest of the team had been warned that this special souvenir
was booked for pride of place in the boardroom. It would serve
as a reminder of an unforgettable night that could have turned
out to be the biggest non-event in the club’s history!
Argyle: Furnell (Aleksic), Provan, Sullivan, Hore, Saxton,
Hague, Dowling, Rickard; Hinch (Davey), Latcham, Welsh.
Santos: Claudio, Alberto, Murias, Hermes, Leo, Marcal, Jair,
Brecha (Pitico), Pitico (Vincente), Alcindo, Pele, Edu.
Scorers: Argyle - Dowling, Rickard, Hinch; Santos - Pele (pen),
Edu
Referee: Mr C. Nicholls (Plymouth)
Attendance: 37,639
#Post#: 57531--------------------------------------------------
Re: Charles Henry Nicholls (Plymouth)
DIR By: Acme Thunderer
Date: December 30, 2022, 3:40 pm
---------------------------------------------------------
Pele coming to Plymouth, how very appropriate that this should
be mentioned now following news of the great man's passing. I
saw Charles in action at Selhurst Park in a Div 2 London derby
between Crystal Palace and QPR in September 1967. Both teams
were at the top of Div 2, the game was played in front of a
record League crowd at SP of over 38,000 and it was the Palace
who won it 1-0 with a tap-in goal from long serving defender
Terry Long. I recall Charles as a small dapper chap with a
moustache and he handled proceedings well. We knew Charles was
still around back in 2015 when the photo of Plymouth's three FL
referees was posted on the old RTR, but I had not realised that
he had survived until 2021. He must have been one of the last
surviving referees from the 1960s and I wonder how many others
are still around. Norman Burtenshaw it seems, anyone else? RIP
Charles.
#Post#: 57538--------------------------------------------------
Re: Charles Henry Nicholls (Plymouth)
DIR By: John Treleven
Date: December 31, 2022, 6:33 am
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Norman & Brenda Burtenshaw are still at Benhall, Saxmundham,
Suffolk
#Post#: 57893--------------------------------------------------
Re: Charles Henry Nicholls (Plymouth)
DIR By: Hendo
Date: January 7, 2023, 12:50 pm
---------------------------------------------------------
--- Quote from: Acme Thunderer link ---
>
> Pele coming to Plymouth, how very appropriate that this should
be mentioned now following news of the great man's passing. I
saw Charles in action at Selhurst Park in a Div 2 London derby
between Crystal Palace and QPR in September 1967. Both teams
were at the top of Div 2, the game was played in front of a
record League crowd at SP of over 38,000 and it was the Palace
who won it 1-0 with a tap-in goal from long serving defender
Terry Long. I recall Charles as a small dapper chap with a
moustache and he handled proceedings well. We knew Charles was
still around back in 2015 when the photo of Plymouth's three FL
referees was posted on the old RTR, but I had not realised that
he had survived until 2021. He must have been one of the last
surviving referees from the 1960s and I wonder how many others
are still around. Norman Burtenshaw it seems, anyone else? RIP
Charles.
>
--- End Quote ---
Walter Johnson in his early 90s still knocking around
#Post#: 57939--------------------------------------------------
Re: Charles Henry Nicholls (Plymouth)
DIR By: John Treleven
Date: January 8, 2023, 8:59 am
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Walter B(ainbridge?) Johnson born Q2 1931 Kendal, Westmorland,
son of Walton Bainbridge Johnson (1897-1967) & Mary, nee Travis
Westmorland County Referee's Chairman in 1973 and served as
Referees' Representative on the Westmorland F.A. Council for 24
years, being a member of the Association for 40 years and
received the Meritorious Service Award from the national
Referees' Association for services to Refereeing.
Westmorland League 1957
Lancashire Combination Linesman 1960
Lancashire Combination Referee 1962
Football League Linesman 1963
Football League Auxiliary Referee 1969
Football League Referee 1970-78
1964, Linesman European Cup Derry City v Steau Bucharest
1967, Linesman European Nations Cup - Scotland v Wales
1968, Linesman F.A. Cup Final - Everton v West Brom at Wembley
1969, Reserve Official F.A. Cup Final Manchester City v
Leicester City
1970, Linesman Anglo Italian Cup - Napoli v Swindon Town
1973, Linesman European Cup - Bayern Munich v Ajax
1974, Linesman Friendly International - Scotland v East Germany
1977, Linesman European Cup Winner Cup Semi Final - Anderlecht v
Napoli
Described in an early 70s programme as a clicker for K shoes
(Kendal), married (Marion E Knight Q1 1957) with two children
(Karen Q3 1961, Barry D (Q3 1963)
A boot and shoe clicker is the person who cuts the uppers for
boots or shoes from a skin of leather or piece of man-made
material (usually from a bulk roll).
This includes all components of the upper, including linings,
facings, stiffeners, reinforcements for eyelets and
zip-protectors.
Still in Kendal with Marion E Johnson in 2002
#Post#: 58014--------------------------------------------------
Re: Charles Henry Nicholls (Plymouth)
DIR By: stepan
Date: January 9, 2023, 12:14 pm
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Football League Referee Walter B. Johnson (Kendal), 1972
#Post#: 58257--------------------------------------------------
Re: Charles Henry Nicholls (Plymouth)
DIR By: Timbo
Date: January 14, 2023, 12:13 pm
---------------------------------------------------------
--- Quote from: Acme Thunderer link ---
>
> He must have been one of the last surviving referees from the
1960s and I wonder how many others are still around.
>
--- End Quote ---
Ron Finnerty of Thame is still around - FL list in the late
1960s ?
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