Jeff Winter

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Jeff Winter (born 18 April 1955^[1]) is a former FA Premier League referee from Middlesbrough in the north-east of England.

1 Career
2 References
- 2.1 Print
- 2.2 Internet

[edit] Career

Winter took charge of the 2004 FA Cup Final between Manchester United and Millwall, his final game as a professional referee before retirement. Winter also appeared as an official on the BBC TV programme Superstars.

His 2006 autobiography, Who's The B*****d In The Black? was notable for Winter's sense of self-importance, particularly in his treatment of his final game as referee of a professional league match, where he suggests that the crowd's warm reaction at the end might have been reserved for him.^[2]:

In the end I played a little bit extra, waiting until play was at the Kop end, before sounding the final shrill blast - a bit like the Last Post. The fans behind the goal burst into spontaneous applause. It was longer and louder than normal, even for a big home win. Did they know it was my final visit? Was the applause for me? They are such knowledgeable football people, that it would not surprise me.

A critical Times review of the book suggested a more plausible explanation for the extra applause was that the game saw Liverpool take the advantage in the race with Newcastle United for 4th and final UEFA Champions League place for the next season with their 4-0 defeat of Blackburn Rovers.^[2]

Since the year 2006, he has officiated in the annual series of national six-a-side tournaments called Masters Football, referees for which are FA endorsed. This competition features ex-professional footballers chosen by the PFA, and is televised on Sky TV. ^[3] He worked for TFM Radio on Teesside until June 2008 ^[4] and currently writes a weekly column for Vital Hartlepool.^[5]

MQ Magazine stated in 2005 that Winter is one of five freemasons to referee the FA Cup Final.^[6]