RateTheRef

The resumption after hostilities saw a F.L. list of 84 referees and 279 linesmen.

Of the 279 linesmen, exactly 50 later became F.L. referees.

229 did not (see updated list at the end of the thread of those not yet identified)

Now including 46-47 and 47-48 too

If so he would have been aged about 70-75

That sounds about right. Maybe someone else who went to Lilleshall or Lincoln could confirm ?   

I wonder if F May of Reading is Fred May ? He is mentioned in the history of Reading RA that I referenced some time ago :-

"1947 saw the largest ever meeting of (or rather organised by) the Reading RA. Stanley Rous (later Sir), then Secretary of the FA, came to talk to the society. The meeting was attended by some 200 people, though the membership at the time was only 52. Also in that year, Fred May, a former committee member and a Berks & Bucks FA Council member, was appointed Secretary of Reading FC. Fred was to serve as a County FA Council member for 44 years, was made a Life Member in 1971, and served as President from 1986-1990".

Can we have an updated list please John, showing those that are still queries ?

I did not want to be less than kind in my earlier post, but we was quite old.  Although I was a new referee in my early 20s at the time to my perception of "old" may have been different than it was today.

This was in the days when appointments came on postcards, so I do not remember speaking to him often and certainly cannot remember an accent of any kind.

Sorry that is not more helpful, but I do still think that is him.

Norman Hillier was born Wright but adopted his mothers maiden name

George Jarvis made it to 80 (1909-89)

There is a nice piece about George Jarvis in the Hastings and St Leonard's Observer for 6 April 1957 which can be seen on the BNA website, marking his retirement and describing him as the best referee to be seen at Hastings' Southern League matches in those days. He was also once invited to speak to the Bedford Town supporters' club, a rare thing for those days.

An excellent find of an elusive man

Alfred Adolphus J Baker
born Bristol Q4 1902
no sign of a marriage
or even of his demise

Also found one of the 6 missing post war refs

A.Ward, is in fact A.A.T. Ward
Albert Alphonso Thomas Ward
He sometimes switched his 2nd & 3rd forenames
born Dursley Glos Q3 1907
md 1934 & died 1968, both Bristol