RateTheRef

Sheffield Telegraph 13th January 1915

A. Warner (Nottingham) promoted to full F.L. referees list, C. Illsley (Smethwick) and T. Shorttle (Middlesbrough) added to the supplementary list

Presumably to fill vacancies caused by others joining the armed services

Alf Warner only appeared on the F.L. list in 1914-15 but received many F.A. appointments - 1914 & 1922 Amateur Cup Finals & 1921 Charity Shield

Charles Illsley was listed for three of the four war seasons and the first post war season and received a Birmingham Long Service medal in 1932

But Shorttle was never listed in Upton because he only appeared at the top level for this half a season

An unusual family name but John (1836-1904) and his four sons - John, James, Michael and Thomas soon remedied that, at least in Middlesbrough

They, like many others, were averse to officially registering births which only gained widespread acceptance from the 1870s

Thomas, the youngest, born 1868/9, was evidently a good all round sportsman, being a regular in the Middlesbrough cricket team and often appearing at the top end of their bowling averages from 1895 onwards

He married Margaret Garritty (1875-1965) in 1898 and they further promoted the Shorttle name with their last child born in 1914

He also must have been officiating in local football as he was on the F.L. line list by 1901-02 (Sunderland v Manchester City 07.09.1901)

In 1905 he was on the line for the Amateur Cup semi-final at nearby Stockton

He continued on the F.L. lines until 1915 when he had his "15 minutes of fame" - in the middle for Manchester United v Bradford City 13.03.1915 and Leeds City v Nottingham Forest 10.04.1915

He did not re-appear the following season, even locally, so perhaps he retired at the top aged 46/47 or war work claimed his attentions.

Shorttle re-appears in the 1930s competing in the Middlesbrough Bowls Singles Tournament until 1940 when aged 71/72

He died in 1954 aged 85, with his wife living for a further 11 years before dying just short of her 90th birthday in 1965