George Reader
Encyclopedia
George Reader was the fourth man to referee a FIFA World Cup
Final, the first Englishman
(one of only 10 match officials from the United Kingdom) to do so, and the oldest match official at any World Cup in history. He hailed from Nuneaton
, Warwickshire
.
was to attend) just after the First World War
in Exeter
. St. Luke's is now part of Exeter University.
Finding work in Exeter as a young teacher, Reader first played as an amateur
for Exeter City
in the Southern Football League
, in the 1919–20 season. It was with that club that he played in a friendly against Southampton
on 3 January 1920, a week before the third round of the FA Cup
. Reader scored and impressed the visiting side so much that they signed him for a fee of £50, as a handy replacement centre-forward to Bill Rawlings
, who was a mainstay of the Saints side in the 1920s.
Unfortunately, given Rawling's abilities (he scored on average a goal every two games), Reader was unable to break into the side and played only three times in the old Third Division (South) before moving to Harland and Wolff
for a year, and then playing on the Isle of Wight
at Cowes
until 1930, commuting on the ferry from his job as an assistant schoolmaster in Southampton.
, and progressed through the promotional system with an alacrity that underlined his ability and experience. Within six seasons he was running the line in the Football League
, and three years later was invited to referee their matches in season 1939–40. Unfortunately, that season was abandoned after three games, due to the start of the Second World War
, and therefore Reader officially only refereed three Football League matches in his whole career.
However, during hostilities, Reader featured prominently in wartime football, and was appointed as referee in two War Cup
finals and Home Internationals and then, towards the end of hostilities, was appointed to take charge of Victory internationals between England
and allied national teams. He retired from the Football League list in November 1944 but was still in such demand amongst foreign Football Associations that he was selected to officiate throughout Europe; in Barcelona for a Spain
versus Argentina
game in 1947, and also taking charge of matches in 1949 in Stockholm
(between Sweden
and Hungary
), and in Geneva and Lisbon
. In 1948 the Football League took the unusual step of recalling Reader from retirement to referee the Brentford
versus Chelsea
fixture at Griffin Park
. His swansong, at the age of 50, appeared to be the Rest of Europe versus Great Britain representative match at Hampden Park
, held to celebrate the 'blessed Peace', but in 1949 England qualified for the FIFA World Cup
finals in Brazil.
with the English team for the 1950 FIFA World Cup
. Despite reservations about his advanced age, Reader’s international experience had placed him amongst those the Football Association
could call on, and he was selected alongside Mervyn (Sandy) Griffiths (of Wales), George Mitchell
(of Scotland) and the two English referees Reg Leafe
and Arthur Ellis
.
Given charge of the opening match, Reader’s powers of control were put to the test just after Brazil
scored their first goal against Mexico
. As was the custom, the goal heralded a mass invasion by reporters demanding immediate responses from goalscorer and goalkeeper. Ellis, watching on, later wrote, in his book "The Final Whistle": "How could any one man restore law and order? Somehow, George Reader did just that within a few minutes. He cleared the pitch almost single-handed and re-started the World Cup curtain-raiser as if it were an end-of-the-season fixture in the Yorkshire League." In their next match against the Swiss
, the Brazilians voiced their criticisms of the Spanish referee, Ramón Azon Roma, stating that he had cost them victory (Jacques Fatton
equalising in the 88th minute) and, as a result, the editor of a daily newspaper in Sao Paulo
, "Gazeta Esportivo", sang the praises of the British referees, telling his readers that even if they were to face England, Brazil would demand a British referee. "We must strongly demand that Brazil shall not take the field again in this World Championship if a British referee is not in charge. Even should we finally meet the English we shall still demand a British referee and have full confidence in him", he wrote. With England's early exit this unlikely event was averted. However, all four matches that Brazil played thereafter were refereed by one of the British contingent.
So, as Brazil won their way through to the final match, and as public expectation grew so much that it threatened to engulf even the massive Maracana
, each Brazilian game came to be refereed by one of the British team, including the decisive match of the final group stage.
's thrashing of the Bolivians
in Group 4; but it was to be in his appointment to the final Brazilian game that he would secure his place in history. Although there was no provision for a final deciding match in this tournament, the last game of the tournament (albeit played at the same time as the Sweden
v Spain
fixture) was the determining fixture. Reader was appointed to referee this match, with Ellis and Mitchell running the lines. On the day of the final, Reader was 53 years and 236 days old, easily the oldest referee ever to officiate in a FIFA World Cup
final.
Approximate recordings for the attendance that day differ wildly. FIFA consider that there were 174,000 people there; although other estimates indicate that there may have been between 199,854 and as many as 250,000 (which would have been more people than lived in Reader's Southampton at the time). In any event, it is the highest recorded attendance at a football match in history.
His role in the final is famous for the incident in the 47th minute of the game when Obdulio Varela
took the ball out of the Uruguayan net after Friaca
's goal put Brazil 1-0 up. Varela strode up to Reader and started arguing incomprehensibly in Spanish to the monolingual referee. By the time Reader had waved play to begin again the crowd had settled and Varela had issued the rousing cry: "Now, it's time to win!" It was said that Varela's actions were enough to still the crowd and steal the initiative from the Brazilian team. Brazil lost in such a shocking, emotional manner that suicides were reported at the stadium, and Jules Rimet
would comment (about the lack of noise from the massed banks of the Maracana
): "The silence was morbid, sometimes too difficult to bear."
George Reader became a Director, and later Chairman, of Southampton
in 1963, and sat beside HM The Queen
when Lawrie McMenemy
's side won the 1976 FA Cup Final, passing away on the anniversary of the very first World Cup matches two years later.
On 19 January 2001, Southampton set about naming parts of St Mary's Stadium
, in honour of past serving club officials. Reader's name was short-listed as one for the Box Holders' Bar.
FIFA World Cup
The FIFA World Cup, often simply the World Cup, is an international association football competition contested by the senior men's national teams of the members of Fédération Internationale de Football Association , the sport's global governing body...
Final, the first Englishman
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
(one of only 10 match officials from the United Kingdom) to do so, and the oldest match official at any World Cup in history. He hailed from Nuneaton
Nuneaton
Nuneaton is the largest town in the Borough of Nuneaton and Bedworth and in the English county of Warwickshire.Nuneaton is most famous for its associations with the 19th century author George Eliot, who was born on a farm on the Arbury Estate just outside Nuneaton in 1819 and lived in the town for...
, Warwickshire
Warwickshire
Warwickshire is a landlocked non-metropolitan county in the West Midlands region of England. The county town is Warwick, although the largest town is Nuneaton. The county is famous for being the birthplace of William Shakespeare...
.
Early career
By profession he was a schoolmaster, going to St Luke's teacher training college (the same one that Ken AstonKen Aston
Kenneth George "Ken" Aston, MBE was an English teacher, soldier, and football referee, who was responsible for many important developments in football refereeing.- Early life and career :...
was to attend) just after the First World War
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
in Exeter
Exeter
Exeter is a historic city in Devon, England. It lies within the ceremonial county of Devon, of which it is the county town as well as the home of Devon County Council. Currently the administrative area has the status of a non-metropolitan district, and is therefore under the administration of the...
. St. Luke's is now part of Exeter University.
Finding work in Exeter as a young teacher, Reader first played as an amateur
Amateur sports
Amateur sports are sports in which participants engage largely or entirely without remuneration. Sporting amateurism was a zealously guarded ideal in the 19th century, especially among the upper classes, but faced steady erosion throughout the 20th century with the continuing growth of pro sports...
for Exeter City
Exeter City F.C.
Exeter City Football Club is an English football club, based in Exeter, which is owned by its fans through the Exeter City Supporters Trust.The club was a member of the Football League from 1920 to 2003...
in the Southern Football League
Southern Football League
The Southern League is an English football competition featuring semi-professional and amateur clubs from the South West, South Central and Midlands of England and South Wales...
, in the 1919–20 season. It was with that club that he played in a friendly against Southampton
Southampton F.C.
Southampton Football Club is an English football team, nicknamed The Saints, based in the city of Southampton, Hampshire. The club gained promotion to the Championship from League One in the 2010–2011 season after being relegated in 2009. Their home ground is the St Mary's Stadium, where the club...
on 3 January 1920, a week before the third round of the FA Cup
FA Cup
The Football Association Challenge Cup, commonly known as the FA Cup, is a knockout cup competition in English football and is the oldest association football competition in the world. The "FA Cup" is run by and named after The Football Association and usually refers to the English men's...
. Reader scored and impressed the visiting side so much that they signed him for a fee of £50, as a handy replacement centre-forward to Bill Rawlings
Bill Rawlings
William Ernest "Bill" Rawlings was an English footballer.-Playing career:Rawlings' career started in 1918 with Southampton, he stayed ten years with the club, from 1918 to 1928. His 193 goals places him third on the club's list of all-time goalscorers, behind Mick Channon and Matthew Le Tissier...
, who was a mainstay of the Saints side in the 1920s.
Unfortunately, given Rawling's abilities (he scored on average a goal every two games), Reader was unable to break into the side and played only three times in the old Third Division (South) before moving to Harland and Wolff
Harland and Wolff
Harland and Wolff Heavy Industries is a Northern Irish heavy industrial company, specialising in shipbuilding and offshore construction, located in Belfast, Northern Ireland....
for a year, and then playing on the Isle of Wight
Isle of Wight
The Isle of Wight is a county and the largest island of England, located in the English Channel, on average about 2–4 miles off the south coast of the county of Hampshire, separated from the mainland by a strait called the Solent...
at Cowes
Cowes Sports F.C.
Cowes Sports F.C. is a football club based in Cowes, Isle of Wight, England. They were established in 1881.The history of Cowes Football Club can be traced back to 1881, when the club was originally formed, although competitive action did not arrive until 1886 in the shape of the Hants and Dorset...
until 1930, commuting on the ferry from his job as an assistant schoolmaster in Southampton.
Refereeing
He first took up refereeing in 1930, appearing on Southampton CommonSouthampton Common
Southampton Common is a large open space to the north of the city centre of Southampton, England. It is bounded by the districts of Shirley, Bassett, Highfield and Portswood. The area supports a large variety of wildlife, including the largest recorded population of the internationally rare great...
, and progressed through the promotional system with an alacrity that underlined his ability and experience. Within six seasons he was running the line in the Football League
The Football League
The Football League, also known as the npower Football League for sponsorship reasons, is a league competition featuring professional association football clubs from England and Wales. Founded in 1888, it is the oldest such competition in world football...
, and three years later was invited to referee their matches in season 1939–40. Unfortunately, that season was abandoned after three games, due to the start of the Second World War
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
, and therefore Reader officially only refereed three Football League matches in his whole career.
However, during hostilities, Reader featured prominently in wartime football, and was appointed as referee in two War Cup
Football League War Cup
The Football League War Cup was an association football tournament held between 1939 and 1945 which aimed to fill the gaping hole left in English Football by the cancellation of the FA Cup.- Background:...
finals and Home Internationals and then, towards the end of hostilities, was appointed to take charge of Victory internationals between England
England national football team
The England national football team represents England in association football and is controlled by the Football Association, the governing body for football in England. England is the joint oldest national football team in the world, alongside Scotland, whom they played in the world's first...
and allied national teams. He retired from the Football League list in November 1944 but was still in such demand amongst foreign Football Associations that he was selected to officiate throughout Europe; in Barcelona for a Spain
Spain national football team
The Spain national football team represents Spain in international association football and is controlled by the Royal Spanish Football Federation, the governing body for football in Spain. The current head coach is Vicente del Bosque...
versus Argentina
Argentina national football team
The Argentina national football team represents Argentina in association football and is controlled by the Argentine Football Association , the governing body for football in Argentina. Argentina's home stadium is Estadio Monumental Antonio Vespucio Liberti and their head coach is Alejandro...
game in 1947, and also taking charge of matches in 1949 in Stockholm
Råsunda Stadium
Råsunda Fotbollstadion, also Råsundastadion, Råsunda Stadium or just Råsunda, is a Swedish national football stadium. It is located in Solna Municipality in Metropolitan Stockholm and named after Råsunda, a zone of Solna.-History:...
(between Sweden
Sweden national football team
The Swedish national football team represents Sweden in association football and is controlled by the Swedish Football Association, the governing body for Football in Sweden. Sweden's home ground is Råsunda Stadium in Stockholms län and their head coach is Erik Hamrén. Sweden made their first...
and Hungary
Hungary national football team
The Hungary national football team represents Hungary in international football and is controlled by the Hungarian Football Federation....
), and in Geneva and Lisbon
Estádio José Alvalade
Estádio José Alvalade is a football stadium in Lisbon, Portugal, home of Sporting Clube de Portugal, one of the country's biggest clubs. It is the center of a complex called Alvalade XXI , designed by Portuguese architect...
. In 1948 the Football League took the unusual step of recalling Reader from retirement to referee the Brentford
Brentford F.C.
Brentford Football Club are a professional English football club based in Brentford in the London Borough of Hounslow. They are currently playing in Football League One....
versus Chelsea
Chelsea F.C.
Chelsea Football Club are an English football club based in West London. Founded in 1905, they play in the Premier League and have spent most of their history in the top tier of English football. Chelsea have been English champions four times, FA Cup winners six times and League Cup winners four...
fixture at Griffin Park
Griffin Park
Griffin Park is a football ground situated in the London Borough of Hounslow, west London. It has been the home ground of League One side Brentford since it was built in 1904. It is known for being the only English league football ground to have a pub on each corner, and is situated in a...
. His swansong, at the age of 50, appeared to be the Rest of Europe versus Great Britain representative match at Hampden Park
Hampden Park
Hampden Park is a football stadium in the Mount Florida area of Glasgow, Scotland. The 52,063 capacity venue serves as the national stadium of football in Scotland...
, held to celebrate the 'blessed Peace', but in 1949 England qualified for the FIFA World Cup
FIFA World Cup
The FIFA World Cup, often simply the World Cup, is an international association football competition contested by the senior men's national teams of the members of Fédération Internationale de Football Association , the sport's global governing body...
finals in Brazil.
1950 FIFA World Cup
As an adjunct to their participation, FIFA requested that a team of British match officials journey to BrazilBrazil
Brazil , officially the Federative Republic of Brazil , is the largest country in South America. It is the world's fifth largest country, both by geographical area and by population with over 192 million people...
with the English team for the 1950 FIFA World Cup
1950 FIFA World Cup
The 1950 FIFA World Cup, held in Brazil from 24 June to 16 July, was the fourth FIFA World Cup. It was the first World Cup since 1938, the planned 1942 and 1946 competitions having been canceled owing to World War II...
. Despite reservations about his advanced age, Reader’s international experience had placed him amongst those the Football Association
The Football Association
The Football Association, also known as simply The FA, is the governing body of football in England, and the Crown Dependencies of Jersey, Guernsey and the Isle of Man. It was formed in 1863, and is the oldest national football association...
could call on, and he was selected alongside Mervyn (Sandy) Griffiths (of Wales), George Mitchell
George Mitchell (referee)
George Mitchell was the first Scotsman to participate in a FIFA World Cup final match when he ran the line to George Reader in the 1950 final group match between Brazil and Uruguay....
(of Scotland) and the two English referees Reg Leafe
Reg Leafe
Reginald James Leafe was a FIFA referee in the 1950s and early 1960s.-Career:He was appointed to the 1955 FA Cup Final at Wembley on May 7, 1955, when Newcastle United beat Manchester City 3-1. He was subsequently an English representative at the 1958 FIFA World Cup, taking charge of the Group A...
and Arthur Ellis
Arthur Edward Ellis
Arthur Edward Ellis was an English football referee.Ellis was a referee in The Football Association competitions and in FIFA international competitions...
.
Given charge of the opening match, Reader’s powers of control were put to the test just after Brazil
Brazil national football team
The Brazil national football team represents Brazil in international men's football and is controlled by the Brazilian Football Confederation , the governing body for football in Brazil. They are a member of the International Federation of Association Football since 1923 and also a member of the...
scored their first goal against Mexico
Mexico national football team
The Mexican national football team represents Mexico in association football and is governed by the Mexican Football Federation , the governing body for football in Mexico. Mexico's home stadium is the Estadio Azteca and their head coach is José Manuel de la Torre...
. As was the custom, the goal heralded a mass invasion by reporters demanding immediate responses from goalscorer and goalkeeper. Ellis, watching on, later wrote, in his book "The Final Whistle": "How could any one man restore law and order? Somehow, George Reader did just that within a few minutes. He cleared the pitch almost single-handed and re-started the World Cup curtain-raiser as if it were an end-of-the-season fixture in the Yorkshire League." In their next match against the Swiss
Switzerland national football team
The Swiss national football team is the national football team of Switzerland...
, the Brazilians voiced their criticisms of the Spanish referee, Ramón Azon Roma, stating that he had cost them victory (Jacques Fatton
Jacques Fatton
Jacques "Jacky" Fatton was a Swiss footballer.-Career:Fatton, who was born in Exincourt, France, was capped 53 times and scored 29 goals for the Switzerland national football team. He played in two FIFA World Cups, scoring twice in 1950 and once in 1954.During his club career, Fatton played for...
equalising in the 88th minute) and, as a result, the editor of a daily newspaper in Sao Paulo
São Paulo
São Paulo is the largest city in Brazil, the largest city in the southern hemisphere and South America, and the world's seventh largest city by population. The metropolis is anchor to the São Paulo metropolitan area, ranked as the second-most populous metropolitan area in the Americas and among...
, "Gazeta Esportivo", sang the praises of the British referees, telling his readers that even if they were to face England, Brazil would demand a British referee. "We must strongly demand that Brazil shall not take the field again in this World Championship if a British referee is not in charge. Even should we finally meet the English we shall still demand a British referee and have full confidence in him", he wrote. With England's early exit this unlikely event was averted. However, all four matches that Brazil played thereafter were refereed by one of the British contingent.
So, as Brazil won their way through to the final match, and as public expectation grew so much that it threatened to engulf even the massive Maracana
Maracanã
Maracanã may refer to:* The Red-shouldered Macaw, a bird known in Brazil as Maracanã* Maracanã , a neighborhood in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil* Maracanã , a stadium located in Maracanã neighborhood...
, each Brazilian game came to be refereed by one of the British team, including the decisive match of the final group stage.
The Decisive Game (Uruguay vs Brazil)
Reader had refereed two matches prior to the final group: the opening game (in which Brazil beat Mexico) and UruguayUruguay national football team
The Uruguayan national football team represents Uruguay in international association football and is controlled by the Uruguayan Football Association, the governing body for football in Uruguay. The current head coach is Óscar Tabárez...
's thrashing of the Bolivians
Bolivia national football team
The Bolivia national football team is the national team of Bolivia and is controlled by the Federación Boliviana de Fútbol. After playing in the 1930 and 1950 World Cups, they qualified just once—in 1994...
in Group 4; but it was to be in his appointment to the final Brazilian game that he would secure his place in history. Although there was no provision for a final deciding match in this tournament, the last game of the tournament (albeit played at the same time as the Sweden
Sweden national football team
The Swedish national football team represents Sweden in association football and is controlled by the Swedish Football Association, the governing body for Football in Sweden. Sweden's home ground is Råsunda Stadium in Stockholms län and their head coach is Erik Hamrén. Sweden made their first...
v Spain
Spain national football team
The Spain national football team represents Spain in international association football and is controlled by the Royal Spanish Football Federation, the governing body for football in Spain. The current head coach is Vicente del Bosque...
fixture) was the determining fixture. Reader was appointed to referee this match, with Ellis and Mitchell running the lines. On the day of the final, Reader was 53 years and 236 days old, easily the oldest referee ever to officiate in a FIFA World Cup
FIFA World Cup
The FIFA World Cup, often simply the World Cup, is an international association football competition contested by the senior men's national teams of the members of Fédération Internationale de Football Association , the sport's global governing body...
final.
Approximate recordings for the attendance that day differ wildly. FIFA consider that there were 174,000 people there; although other estimates indicate that there may have been between 199,854 and as many as 250,000 (which would have been more people than lived in Reader's Southampton at the time). In any event, it is the highest recorded attendance at a football match in history.
His role in the final is famous for the incident in the 47th minute of the game when Obdulio Varela
Obdulio Varela
Obdulio Jacinto Muiños Varela was a Uruguayan football player. He was the captain of the Uruguayan national team that won the 1950 World Cup after beating Brazil in the decisive final round match popularly known as the Maracanazo...
took the ball out of the Uruguayan net after Friaca
Friaça
Albino Friaça Cardoso , best known as Friaça , was a Brazilian football striker.He was born in Porciúncula. In his career he played for Vasco da Gama, São Paulo and Ponte Preta...
's goal put Brazil 1-0 up. Varela strode up to Reader and started arguing incomprehensibly in Spanish to the monolingual referee. By the time Reader had waved play to begin again the crowd had settled and Varela had issued the rousing cry: "Now, it's time to win!" It was said that Varela's actions were enough to still the crowd and steal the initiative from the Brazilian team. Brazil lost in such a shocking, emotional manner that suicides were reported at the stadium, and Jules Rimet
Jules Rimet
Jules Rimet was a French football administrator who was the 3rd President of FIFA, serving from 1921 to 1954. He was FIFA's longest serving president, having served for 33 years. He also served as the president of the French Football Federation from 1919 to 1946...
would comment (about the lack of noise from the massed banks of the Maracana
Maracanã
Maracanã may refer to:* The Red-shouldered Macaw, a bird known in Brazil as Maracanã* Maracanã , a neighborhood in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil* Maracanã , a stadium located in Maracanã neighborhood...
): "The silence was morbid, sometimes too difficult to bear."
Retirement
Uruguay went onto win and Reader returned home to Hanley Road in Southampton and promptly retired, stating that he had had everything that soccer can give him. He ended his teaching career as headmaster of Western School, Shirley, in 1960.George Reader became a Director, and later Chairman, of Southampton
Southampton F.C.
Southampton Football Club is an English football team, nicknamed The Saints, based in the city of Southampton, Hampshire. The club gained promotion to the Championship from League One in the 2010–2011 season after being relegated in 2009. Their home ground is the St Mary's Stadium, where the club...
in 1963, and sat beside HM The Queen
Elizabeth II of the United Kingdom
Elizabeth II is the constitutional monarch of 16 sovereign states known as the Commonwealth realms: the United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Jamaica, Barbados, the Bahamas, Grenada, Papua New Guinea, the Solomon Islands, Tuvalu, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Belize,...
when Lawrie McMenemy
Lawrie McMenemy
Lawrie McMenemy MBE is a retired English football coach, best known for his spell as manager of Southampton Football Club...
's side won the 1976 FA Cup Final, passing away on the anniversary of the very first World Cup matches two years later.
On 19 January 2001, Southampton set about naming parts of St Mary's Stadium
St Mary's Stadium
St Mary's Stadium is the home of Southampton F.C., in the city of Southampton. It is a UEFA 4-star rated stadium and with a capacity of 32,689 is the largest football stadium in the south of England, outside of London.-History:...
, in honour of past serving club officials. Reader's name was short-listed as one for the Box Holders' Bar.