REFERENCES REFER TO THE REFEREE

The referee was "referred" to in Richard Mulcaster's ancient account of "fotebal" in 1581 and was mentioned as the "judge over the parties". The Public Schools constantly used gentlemen on the die of the pitch, to refer to if there was an incident that the two opposing captains were not sure about. Records at Eton as far back as 1845 make reference to the umpires, usually two of them, one from each team, who would go to the referee standing at the pitch side, for help if there was a dispute. The referee would have the rule book in his hand. This became regular in matches by 1880.

In Rochdale, 1842, a match between the Bodyguards Club and the Fearnought Club relied on the neutral man and at this time a handkerchief would be thrown into the air if there was a need to make a decision. This practise prevails on American Football today.

Joseph Hudson, a tool maker in Mills Munitions Factory, Birmingham developed the Acme Thunderer, patented as early as 1868, becoming the AScme Whistle Company. The whistle may not have been made especially for sport but records show that the whistle was used in a match at Nottingham Forest against Sheffield Norfolk (a region in the city area). the secretary treasurer of Forest, Roe Lymbery, recorded in club accounts that there had been a "purchase of a whistle" in December 1872, so he would not have waited 6 years to give it a blow, surely!

There was still the belief that "gentlemen" would never commit a foul on purpose, so the use of free kicks and especially penalties rather grated with the footballers of the day. In September 1891 the "kick of death", or the penalty kick was introduced! It was John Heath of Wolverhampton Wanderers who took the first Football League kick against Accrington Stanley at Molyneux in a 5-0 win.

By 1894, he power of the referee increased and he was allowed on to the field of play. The umpires (now linesmen) retreated to the touchline.

Ken Aston was made famous by introducing the Red and Yellows cards to the game in the 1970 World Cup and now we have six officials surrounding the pitch! You will enjoy this link although you could get too engrossed in the Italian World Cup!
http://fitba2014.blogspot.co.uk/2014/06/a-short-history-of-referees-whistle.html