Neil Midgley (referee)

Not to be confused with Neil Midgley (footballer) or Neil Midgley (journalist)

Neil Midgley (September 9, 1942^[1] - July 8, 2001^[2]) was an English football referee who originated from Salford, then in Lancashire. At the time of his death he lived in Kearsley, part of the Metropolitan Borough of Bolton, with his wife Barbara.^[2]

Career

Midgley joined the Eccles Referees' Association in 1961 after taking up refereeing, being awarded a life membership in 1978.^[3] He first appeared as a referee in the Football League in 1974.^[2] He later officiated for FIFA.^[4]

At the start of the 1986-87 season, he was awarded control of the Charity Shield match^[2] between Everton and Liverpool at Wembley, which finished 1-1, the trophy being shared.

On May 16, 1987, he stepped out once more at Wembley to take charge of the FA Cup Final between Coventry City and Tottenham Hotspur, which finished 3-2 to the 'Sky Blues'.^[5]

Midgley retired in 1992,^[2] initially becoming a referees' assessor for the newly formulated Premier League competition, and for UEFA. However, in 1999, he was replaced as a Premiership assessor by Martin Bodenham, although still retained in that capacity by the European governing body.^[6] He had also been a past president of the Football League Referees and Linesmen's Association, and was an active member of the Eccles Referees' Association.^[2] He became the ERA chairman early in his career, and served as their president from 1983 to 1989 and from 1992 until his death.^[3]

Death

Neil Midgley died at the age of 58 in July 2001 after a short illness.^[2] In his honour, The Eccles Referees' Association changed the name of its award for the senior level Referee of the Year from the President's Cup to the Neil Midgley Memorial Trophy. Barbara Midgley presents the trophy to the winner each year.^[3]

References

External links

• 'Too many refs show cards like a gunslinger' - Will Buckley's interview with Midgley at the Guardian/Observer website