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Referee blows final whistle on 50-year career

Andrew BartonYorkshire
LS Photography A man with white hair stands holding a commemorative silver salver. He is wearing a black referees outfit.LS Photography
Jim Wilson was presented with a silver salver after 50 years and 3,460 games

An amateur football referee has hung up his whistle after a 50-year career, during which he oversaw nearly 3,500 games.

Jim Wilson, 75, blew time on his final men's match at Middleham in April, with players from both teams forming a guard of honour before kick-off in tribute.

Fittingly, his final game between AFC Middleham Town and Northallerton's Oddies was at the same venue as his first, where in March 1976 he officiated between Middleham and Carperby.

Speaking afterwards he said: "I wanted to get out while I still had a bit of street cred. I didn't want to get to the situation where I couldn't keep up with play."

The retired Wensleydale School history teacher said his final match, which ended in a 3-3 draw, went off without incident, but he said he knew "it was time to call it a day", following some recent narrow misses.

LS Photography This image is a close-up photograph of a clear glass tankard held in a hand. The engraved text appears frosted or etched. The background includes crumpled brown packing paper.LS Photography
He was also given a engraved tankard to mark his long career

"There were a couple of times this last season I've given a couple of penalties from the halfway line.

"Luckily they were right, because there were no complaints, but I knew I should have been much nearer play than I actually was."

Wilson said he was seen off in style after his last match.

"It was absolutely fantastic. I got a presentation from the league and the Wensleydale League and a beer tankard and some beer from the Middleham Town club.

"There was lots of friends and family and six of my grandkids were there, so it was a bit of a celebration."

LS Photography The image shows an outdoor scene on a sports field. In the background there is a small stone clubhouse with a dark roof, a doorway, and windows. In the center a man dressed in a black referee-style uniform is walking forward across the grass, between two lines of players facing inward on either side, creating a guard of honour. On the right side, a group of young men wear light blue football kit. On the left side is a smaller group of individuals in darker sportswear, including black and some red clothing. Both groups are clapping, with hands raised in front of their bodies.LS Photography
A guard of honour by both teams before kick-off paid tribute to Wilson

He said his move into refereeing came about after being asked as a young teacher in Birmingham to set up a school football team.

"So I just refereed school matches for the first couple of years and then, when I moved back to North Yorkshire, I qualified as a referee in 1976, started in the Wensleydale League and worked my way up through."

As well as overseeing 3,460 games, he has also run the line on 101 occasions, and served as a fourth official 42 times, eventually moving down the leagues as the years progressed.

However, his refereeing retirement is not quite complete.

"I've called a stop to refereeing in men's football, but I'll continue to do junior and women's football - until the legs finally give out," he said.

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