RateTheRef

Thanks for the extras. I am afraid this member is getting on in years and I do find I struggle  at times to remember all that has gone before (if I've read it!). Another of the other things I often find difficult is when people use abbreviations. One such is OFR which I guess is On/Off(?) field review. But there are quite a few others.

My appointment list shows Sat 17 April.1975 Stoke City v Newcastle United  R (Bob) Matthewson.
However the other date 27 11 74 was a Wednesday and no fixtures are shown for that date - presumably a rearranged match. So I looked at preceding months and found:
 Wednesday 16 October 1974 Stoke City v QPR  Referee T D Spencer.
I seem to remember that it was the usual policy to appoint the original referee to re-arranged matches. So it could have been Spencer you need.
I have retained all my appointment booklets from August 1974 to May 1978. So should you want any from this period I may well be able to supply them. This presumes that appointments were not changed after the booklet was printed!

I can't add to your list unfortunately. I would however point out that some names are omitted  from your updated lists. Local to me were Kevin McNally, Derek Owen and Alan Hughes. I ran the line to each of these in the1970's but can't tell you when they retired.

Thanks for widening my knowledge. Didn't realise the football world was so erudite. My love of crosswords initially led me to think it might be Colin from Newark! But since he is a Yorkie I have had to have second thoughts!!!

"Only let down is that Simon Bennett will be disappointed with missing the offside. One of the best assistants in the world should really be calling that"

From memory the offside was "a big toe". This is exactly the sort of decision where VAR will get it right. A human being can only guess. I don't believe Bennett will have any concerns knowing that VAR is there to correct any wrong guess!

Thanks to both. Apology accepted. This is one of my favourite web sites. I find some of the exchanges fascinating.
 People are often calling for consistency in referees. My own view is that consistency is well nigh impossible for HUMAN beings. All sorts of factors come into play for many decisions. Errors by referees should be expected and accepted (not unlimited!) in the same way that we accept missed penalties by players. I used to think I had had a good game if I made fewer than three mistakes. Of course some mistakes are more significant than others!
How about that to get people talking!?

  I am surprised at this amplfication of your reply. Another joke? If not I shall not take ANYTHING you say seriously ever again!!!!!   
For statistical proof there needs to be a CAUSAL relationship. Have you heard "You can prove anything with statistics"?