HISTORY OF THE REFEREES’ ASSOCIATION: 1908 -
Background and Formation
In the late 1800's and early 1900's, it is difficult to imagine what satisfaction the pioneer referees acquired from their craft. Part of their reward would no doubt have been the same as the modern day referee, pleasure in helping the game develop, personal exercise in the open and of the psychological feeling of being in control. Their task would have been more difficult, as there were no Referees' Associations or local Societies to provide guidance, encouragement and education. Financial rewards were meagre, the refund of minimum travelling expenses plus a few shillings, at a rate per hour very much less than any Trade Union would tolerate. Considering that the referee was - even then - an essential factor in any match (and in view of the hardships they had to endure), they did not grumble about it - instead, rather like today, they continued to enjoy it.
Following the introduction of the first thirteen 'Rules of Association Football,' handwritten in the Freemasons' Tavern in Lincoln's Inn Fields, London, by the newly formed Football Association (The FA) on 26 October 1863, referees for the first time had a standard set of Laws to apply. Initially, there were two ‘club’ umpires on the field and disputes were referred to a referee who was off the field. In 1891 the referee went onto the field with two linesmen assisting him, one on each touchline. This ‘neutral’ referee was disliked from the outset. Clubs did not like his absolute authority, preferring a mutual agreement between their umpires. Spectators disputed decisions and referees were even assaulted.
In March 1893, The FA formed the first referees’ society at a meeting in Anderton’s Hotel, London where 79 were in attendance. C.W. Alcock (Secretary of The FA) became President, F.J. Wall (later Chairman of The FA) as Chairman and Arthur Roston Bourke as Honorary Secretary. The London Society’s prime purpose was to examine the qualification of referees orally and appoint them to matches. In 1895, William Pickford, a Vice President, was instrumental in the Society producing “The Referees’ Chart, 1895-96”. This contained 17 Laws (or rules) and was far more substantial than those drafted in the1863.
With the growth in popularity of football, more people became referees. They began to group together to teach each other and recruit others. They formed associations, branches, societies, and even a club - the North Staffs Referees’ Club was formed in 1896. They also appointed themselves to games!
In 1899, the heavy workload of 27 societies, 773 members and the appointment of referees became too great and responsibility was transferred to The FA. The London Society ended its short but important career, having given association football a status and initiated many improvements.
The idea that all these groups form a Union was proposed by C.E. (Charles) Sutcliffe, a solicitor, “in consequence of certain unpleasant experiences of referees in many parts of the country.” He had an important supporter in the media, J.A.H. Catton the Editor of the now defunct ‘Athletic News’. James Catton was later to become President 1913-14.
In 1906, Catton wrote a series of articles urging referees to get together to strengthen their position. Referees were disliked, cursed and assaulted, a sound reason for banding together. Referee associations, branches, societies and clubs, mainly from the North and Midlands, gave their initial approval believing that in unity lay strength. Sutcliffe and Catton spared no effort to get things going. Meetings took place in Carlisle, Manchester, Birmingham and London.
Charles Sutcliffe convened an informal meeting on 5 March 1908 in Manchester. He and James Catton emphasised the “need of a Union and how it might serve the interests of referees and promote the good of the game”. 39 Football League referees were approached; they and many others promised their support.
On 9 May 1908, over 300 referees met in Nottingham. Sutcliffe presided, and after he and Catton had spoken, T.P. Campbell (Blackburn) proposed and J.T. Ibbotson (Derby) seconded “That a Referees’ Union be formed”. Every hand went up. W Gilgryst (Manchester) asked for the Union to be for referees’ societies only, and not for referees and referees’ societies. This was defeated by 99 - 65. The following were appointed: President: C.E. Sutcliffe; Honorary Secretary: H. Pollitt; Hon. Treasurer: W. Pickford.
The country was divided into three areas: Northern (Berwick to Sheffield), Midland (Sheffield to Worcester) and Southern (south of Worcester). The meeting appointed a Vice-President and Secretary for each Division. These were, for the Northern, Midland and Southern, respectively: W Gilgryst & H Pollitt; A.G Hines & H Ward; J.C Stark & C.D Crisp. Each Division had three Committee members who were, respectively: T.P Campbell, J.T Howcroft & F.H Dennis; J.H Pearson, F Heath & J.T Ibbotson; FR Viveash, AG Neale & JT Clark.
These 18 men were the founder members of The Referees’ Union. Absent through illness was J.T. Howcroft (Bolton) but he was elected onto the Northern committee. Membership was set at five shillings for seniors and two shillings for juniors; members to decide themselves their status! It was agreed to hold an Annual Conference and this has taken place every year with the exception of the years of the First and Second World Wars.
Key Events - The Early Years
1909
· First Annual Conference in Derby.
· C.D Crisp became Hon. Secretary.
· W Reynolds Vernon and E.W ‘Teddy’ Child were elected Auditors; the latter remained an auditor until his death in 1950.
· The Executive committee reserved the right to review, or veto, Notices of Motion and suggestions for amending the Rules.
· The Referees’ Union dealt with:
o Payments to Leagues by referees
o referees acting as football agents
o referees and gambling
o publication of referee suspensions
o formation of referees’ societies.
1910
· A set of Standing Orders prepared by the Southern Vice-President, J.C Stack, was adopted.
1911
· President Charles E Sutcliffe proposed £25 should be transferred from the general account to form a Benevolent Fund “to aid referees or their dependants in case of need, sickness or death.”
1912
· J.A. MacGregor (Morecambe) moved that The FA be asked to recognise the Union by granting a representative a seat on its Council, but it was decided a better way to advance was first through the County FAs; Newcastle society had already been given a seat on Northumberland County FA.
· New Hon. Secretary was Alan H. Page after Charles D. Crisp’s resignation in February.
1913
· Membership exceeded 2,000.
· J.A.H Catton, the non-referee editor of ‘Athletic News’ was elected President. He appealed for a spirit of unity, and jealousy must be put aside. He proposed a monthly referees magazine and it was decided to produce ‘The Football Referee’ as from September 1913.
1914
· F.R. Viveash was elected Treasurer succeeding William Pickford. Three months later, in the early days of the War, bank manager Viveash died on the cricket field.
· During the War, applications to affiliate from the Scottish RA and the Army RA were not pursued.
1919
· Six months after the War ended, Council resolved to hold a conference on 9 August 1919 in Nottingham despite the refusal of their County FA Referees’ Committee to assist.
· C.E. Sutcliffe, President for one year, appealed that differences be forgotten and a fresh start made. He deplored the past spirit of jealousy.
· Hon. Secretary was Alan H. Page and the new Treasurer was Harry E. Smith (Sheffield) who also became Editor of the new ‘Football Referee’ in 1923 until his death in 1930.
1920
· Membership had dropped to 1,422; largely due to the war.
The early 1920s were turbulent years for The RA. Alan Page, keen to get influential people involved, secured the agreement of W. Claude Kirby (Chairman of Chelsea FC) to be elected President, but he did not attend the 1921 or 1922 Conferences, which were chaired by Arthur Pellowe (Oldham).
Charles Sutcliffe was no longer at the helm and he strongly criticised RA policy and charged the officers with apathy. He said that when he was President, the organisation was successful, now it was disunited and unrepresentative, he could have no further interest in it! Alan Page said the attack was unsporting, unfair, inaccurate and a wilful misrepresentation of the facts. Sutcliffe also made destructive comments and sarcastic remarks in newspapers. The founder President’s parting was eventually accepted by Council with “thanks for past services”.
1921
· A.J. Hutchins (Reading) proposed a name change to ‘British Referees’ Association’. He told The Executive that we should be an association of associations. Executive agreed but preferred ‘British’ to be dropped. The following day, E.A. ‘Teddy’ Eden (Essex), who was about to become Birmingham County FA Secretary, delivered a powerful speech affirming we were successful in spite of our name, The Referees’ Union. There was no other organisation, we were The Referees’ Association, so The RU became The RA.
1922
· Arthur Pellowe presented The RA’s first Honorarium to the Hon. Secretary - Alan Page received a £100 cheque.
1923
· Arthur Pellowe became President until his death in 1925.
· Life Membership was created, the first two being A.H. Page and J.W. Kirkwood (Gateshead).
· Membership reached a record 2,795.
· Treasurer Harry E. Smith also became Editor of the new ‘Football Referee’ until his death in 1930.
1925
· Ernest H. Spiers (Birmingham) became President until 1931. G. Wagstaffe Simmonds (FA), Principal speaker at the lunch said: “With regard to the direct representation of referees on governing bodies, the Association must confine its demands to claims they could justify and having satisfied themselves on that point, they should take a lead from the politician and be most persistent in putting forward their claims.”
1926
· Divisional Vice-Presidents and Secretaries became Council members instead of elected delegates.
· One of the auditors, E.T. ‘Monty’ Mountford (Essex) took over the business side of the ‘Football Referee’, to reduce the workload on the Editor, Harry Smith, who was also treasurer.
· Membership 4,100.
1931
· The Overseas Division was formed with Dixon Barker as Secretary.
1933
· President J.R ‘Dicky’ Schumacher died on the eve of Conference.
1934
· Ernest H Spiers (Birmingham) began a second period as President until 1937, when the position of Immediate Past President was created, a position he held until his death in August 1956.
1936
· Southern Division split into Southern and Western Divisions
1939
· Membership was 5,706
Key Events – Post World War II
Post-war membership dropped to just over 4,500 in March 1947. Even though many Societies continued to hold meetings during the war period with diminished numbers, it was many years before pre-war membership levels were regained. During the transitory period following the war, the RA rallied their members onwards under the banner of “Knights of the Whistle”.
1947
· The Meritorious Service Award was instituted.
1948
· The President’s badge of office was presented to The RA by Dixon Barker (Sunderland) and his wife. Walter Turnbull President (1948-64) was the first to wear it. Dixon had succeeded Harry Smith (Sheffield) as RA Treasurer in 1931 until his death in 1956. He was a founder member of the Bishop Auckland society, and their first secretary.
· Northern Division split to form North-East and North-West divisions.
1974
· Jack Taylor (Wolverhampton) refereed the FIFA World Cup Final – Holland v West Germany
· Ted Ring became editor of Football Referee magazine
1976
· Annual Draw introduced
1977
· Owen Venning appointed as the first full-time General Secretary
· The first RA office, a rented property at Kingswinford was opened on 8 October by the Minister of Sport, Denis Howell MP, himself a RA member and former Football League referee.
1980
· Welsh Division formed.
· Each division now elected their won Vice-President and Secretary who represented the Division on the RA Council, which was chaired by the National President.
1981
· Membership reached an all-time high of 18,674
1983
· Paul Gresty became editor of Football Referee
1989
· Leasehold property purchased at 1 Westhill Road, Coventry
1990
· New office opened by the Lord Mayor of Coventry on 24 November
1998
· Bill Hudson became editor of Football Referee
Restructuring for the 21st Century
Following many years of discussion, Conference 1999 accepted a proposal to consider restructuring the Association. A five member Management Consultancy Team was appointed to make recommendations and their report was published in September 2000. The RA Annual Conference 2001 approved a motion to form an Implementation Team to propose a restructuring based on the MCT report. Their proposal to replace the Referees’ Association and the Divisional structure with a newly constituted Referees’ Association and three independent National Referees’ Associations for England, Wales & Northern Ireland was approved at Conference 2003 in Cheltenham. The Council of the RA was replaced by a nine-man Board of Management of the RAE, electing one of its members as its Chairman.
Key Events
2004
· David Elleray became President. Amongst other improvements, his vision instigated a complete revamp of the 2-day Conference structure, with more emphasis on providing instructional workshop sessions presented by our top officials, for the benefit of member referees of all ages and levels. The business element of Conference (the AGM) now takes place on the Friday afternoon, with Saturday left for the enjoyment, learning and meeting colleagues.
· Magazine renamed Refereeing Today, edited by Chris Hall and Julian Carosi.
· Conference was chaired by John Bunn.
2006
· RA magazine publication ceased and replaced by RAE news Digest and joint RA and FA publication ‘Refereeing’.
2008
· Centenary Conference held at St. Johns Hotel, Solihull; attended by distinguished guests including Geoff Thompson – Vice-President of UEFA and FIFA, Lord David Triesman – FA Chairman, Pierluigi Collina (2002 World Cup Referee) and John Motson (BBC TV commentator).
· Membership was 12,528 in 305 societies.
2010
· New constitution accepted, reverting to the title of ‘Referees Association’.
· RA-FA partnership formed, developing closer links with the two organisations. As a result, all qualified referees registered with the FA become Associate Members of the RA.
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