RateTheRef

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Tom Orpin-Massey

This is my grandfather, James Fredrick Orpin, from South Wales. In his youth he was a keen sportsman, and played rugby for Dinas Powys, and football for Cogan Coronation AFC and Cardiff City amateurs. He then served in the army during his national service, before working in local government for many years. He qualified as a referee in 1955 and officiated games in the Cardiff Combination League. He was appointed to the Welsh League in 1959, the Southern League in 1962, and the Football League in 1966. He then became a FIFA appointed official, notably running the line at Wembley in a Home Championship game in 1967 between England and N. Ireland. He went on to officiate in further internationals and European fixtures in the early 1970s. He loved football and he loved refereeing. I think his favourite anecdote was booking an entire South Wales police team at half time, for dissent. He was a keen Arsenal and Cardiff City supporter. Sorely missed.