RateTheRef
General Refereeing => General Discussion => Topic started by: JohnCoyle on Sat 19 Nov 2022 11:44
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I was watching an episode of The Big Match Revisited the other day. April 1980, Chelsea vs. Notts County in Division 2. The referee was Bill Bombroff. One of the linesmen was a black man whose name I don't know. I wondered if he was the first BAME official to be appointed to the Football League.
I don't think he made it to the Football League middle. If he had I think I would know who he was.
Any ideas?
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If they were appointing all three on the same rough geographical area - it’d be an official from the Bristol area.
I note a copy of said programme is listed on eBay. I’ve contacted the seller to ask if they could send me a photo of the team lineups page. If that comes through - I’ll post up details.
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In 1982 Orient's Tommy Taylor was involved in a controversial incident stemming from racially abusing a linesman during a 5th round FA Cup replay against Crystal Palace.
The programme lists the Linesmen as P.K. Helsby and R.J. Clements, if that's any help. The latter lined in the 1984 League Cup Final. The former was a reserve official for England v Hungary at Wembley.
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P K Helsby was listed as being from Aylesbury so geographically it makes it a good possibility as certainly back then most assistants from that area would have spent much of their time at London grounds
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In 1982 Orient's Tommy Taylor was involved in a controversial incident stemming from racially abusing a linesman during a 5th round FA Cup replay against Crystal Palace.
The programme lists the Linesmen as P.K. Helsby and R.J. Clements, if that's any help. The latter lined in the 1984 League Cup Final. The former was a reserve official for England v Hungary at Wembley.
R.J. "Dick" Clements was from Tonbridge, Kent. I officiated with him a few times. The incident you mention must have involved Mr. Helsby.
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Peter K. Helsby
born c 1946
married 1974 Carmarthen
F.L. line 76-77 to 88-89
Southsea (Portsmouth)/Aylesbury/Copnor (Portsmouth) - still there in 2013
4th for ENG v HUN 27.04.1983
He is possibly the same Peter Helsby who is the match secretary at Bognor Regis Town (21 miles away) - he is the right age but is not black
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In 1982 Orient's Tommy Taylor was involved in a controversial incident stemming from racially abusing a linesman during a 5th round FA Cup replay against Crystal Palace.
The programme lists the Linesmen as P.K. Helsby and R.J. Clements, if that's any help. The latter lined in the 1984 League Cup Final. The former was a reserve official for England v Hungary at Wembley.
R.J. "Dick" Clements was from Tonbridge, Kent. I officiated with him a few times. The incident you mention must have involved Mr. Helsby.
.... or, of course, the officials may not have been as per the programme.
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Have we discovered who the 1980 Chelsea v Notts County lines were yet?
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In 1982 Orient's Tommy Taylor was involved in a controversial incident stemming from racially abusing a linesman during a 5th round FA Cup replay against Crystal Palace.
The programme lists the Linesmen as P.K. Helsby and R.J. Clements, if that's any help. The latter lined in the 1984 League Cup Final. The former was a reserve official for England v Hungary at Wembley.
R.J. "Dick" Clements was from Tonbridge, Kent. I officiated with him a few times. The incident you mention must have involved Mr. Helsby.
.... or, of course, the officials may not have been as per the programme.
Yes, indeed.
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If memory serves me right, Pete Helsby was in the Forces. Possibly Navy as he was based in Portsmouth.
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I’ve had an answer back from the seller of the programme on eBay:
Linesmen: E D Griffin (London N9) & A G Lisney (Tonbridge, Kent)
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Alan G Lisney (Tonbridge) born 1942, living in Deal, Kent with his wife Kay M (nee Whitefield) in 2013
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I’ve had an answer back from the seller of the programme on eBay:
Linesmen: E D Griffin (London N9) & A G Lisney (Tonbridge, Kent)
The official in question had the red flag, so Mr. Griffin may well be our man. I have to say I am not familiar with him, but he may have been the first black man to officiate on the Football League.
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Checking with the F.L. handbooks Griffin is a typo for Griffith
Emerson De Courcey Griffith arrived from Barbados in 1961, married here in 1962 & again in 1981, died in Enfield 2018
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A fascinating, yet sad, postscript to his life
Andy Griffith (twitter June 2020)
My Dad and how racism affected his life
My (step) dad died last year. His name was Emerson Griffith. He was from Barbados and came to England in 1961
Emerson first came into my life aged 10 when he started to go out with my mum.
From initially being ‘Uncle Em’ my brother and I asked him after a few years if we could call him Dad.
A little about his life.
He was one of nine kids.
He left the West Indes and came to Britain (in 1961).
He started as a welder at British Oxygen.
Like many other black workers he faced daily discrimination with the National Front symbol scratched on his locker.
He went on to work as a driver for the GPO
His main hobby was football which I shared with him.
He was a football referee/linesman.
Luckily I was the same shoe size and I used to get his old boots.
I’d play for my school in the morning then rush back to go with him to a match.
It’s an interesting perspective being a white son of a black father.
Sitting in the stands I had to hear various racial slurs against him.
Black this, black that. Interestingly some of these people were very pally with him after the game.
Emerson became the first black official in the football league in the 1980s.
He was a linesman who incurred lots of abuse both verbal and physical. He was often spat upon.
I’m biased of course but I think the reason the F.L. did not promote him to referee was down to racism.
He was an excellent referee at Isthmian League level - a good semi pro standard.
Like many black footballers at the time such as the late, great Cyril Regis, who dad officiated a few times,
Howard Gayle, Laurie Cunningham and many others he faced all the abuse with much dignity and stoicism.
Sadly last year Emerson died. He died a bitter man with severe mental health problems.
It was one of the worst days of my life when I had to get him sectioned under the mental health act.
His pain was large. He had faced lots of hate.
He faced so much unfairness and hate. He loved a glass of rum and a good joke.
The last years of his life ended especially badly but they were good times too.
To all of those who helped him in the GPO and in his officiating I thank you. Many kind words kept him going.
Reply from Michael James (Horsham)
I was a referee on the F.L. when he ran the line to me.
We had a good time together joking about various subjects including his colour.
He always said he could tell the people who meant comments and ones that were joking.
Just remember how happy he was when running line on FL and how proud he was to be first black official.
My wife and I often talk with affection about him and your mum who we met at various conferences.
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https://twitter.com/FortheR93378109/status/1167515460394520576
Emerson Griffith in 1982
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and later in life at his stepsons graduation
https://twitter.com/oteaching/status/1272890548744052742?lang=en
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A wonderful life story but a sad reflection on the times in football. In my years on the Isthmian League in the 1970s, I never came across Emerson and I'm sorry I didn't. Thank you for posting. RIP Emerson.
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If memory serves me right, Pete Helsby was in the Forces. Possibly Navy as he was based in Portsmouth.
Correct.
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I’m really pleased that we’ve managed to solve that mystery and given some acknowledgment to a trailblazer