Gordon Kew
Encyclopedia
Gordon Cecil Kew is an English
former football
referee in the Football League
and for FIFA
. During his refereeing career he was based in Leeds
, Yorkshire
, then Amersham
, Buckinghamshire
, and, for his final season, Middlesbrough
, Yorkshire
.
for the FA Cup Final between Arsenal
and Liverpool
.
In 1972-73
he made his mark by sending off seven players, the highest ever total at the time. In March 1974 he took charge of a quite extraordinary and controversial FA Cup
quarter-final between Newcastle United
and Nottingham Forest
(then in the old Division 2). The Midlands side were already 2-1 up when Kew awarded them a penalty
and then sent off Newcastle defender Pat Howard
for his protests. Forest scored and, shortly afterwards, Newcastle fans invaded the pitch, causing the game to be suspended. Play re-started after a delay and Newcastle fought back, reducing the deficit and then equalising from a penalty before scoring again to apparently win the game 4-3.
That was not the end of the matter, however. Forest protested about events, claiming that the disruption had worked to Newcastle's advantage. Forest manager
Allan Brown said: "The crowd and the referee undoubtedly won the game for Newcastle. When we were taken off we were playing brilliant stuff. Newcastle were finished. But after the hold up, with the crowd baying all the time, the referee gave everything to Newcastle." There were also concerns that allowing the result to stand would encourage hooliganism. The FA annulled the result and ordered the tie to be replayed at a neutral venue (Goodison Park
). Newcastle eventually won (again) after a replay. Kew was to see Newcastle again in the Final. They met Liverpool, and were beaten 3-0.
He was appointed to the FIFA List for the following season (1974-75
).
In his retirement year, one last honour came his way when he was appointed to the 1977 League Cup Final between Aston Villa
and Everton
at Wembley. This required two replays, at Hillsborough
and Old Trafford, before Villa won 3-2. All were refereed by Kew. It is the only major English Final to require three games to resolve the winners.
Print
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...
former football
Football (soccer)
Association football, more commonly known as football or soccer, is a sport played between two teams of eleven players with a spherical ball...
referee 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 for FIFA
FIFA
The Fédération Internationale de Football Association , commonly known by the acronym FIFA , is the international governing body of :association football, futsal and beach football. Its headquarters are located in Zurich, Switzerland, and its president is Sepp Blatter, who is in his fourth...
. During his refereeing career he was based in Leeds
Leeds
Leeds is a city and metropolitan borough in West Yorkshire, England. In 2001 Leeds' main urban subdivision had a population of 443,247, while the entire city has a population of 798,800 , making it the 30th-most populous city in the European Union.Leeds is the cultural, financial and commercial...
, Yorkshire
Yorkshire
Yorkshire is a historic county of northern England and the largest in the United Kingdom. Because of its great size in comparison to other English counties, functions have been increasingly undertaken over time by its subdivisions, which have also been subject to periodic reform...
, then Amersham
Amersham
Amersham is a market town and civil parish within Chiltern district in Buckinghamshire, England, 27 miles north west of London, in the Chiltern Hills. It is part of the London commuter belt....
, Buckinghamshire
Buckinghamshire
Buckinghamshire is a ceremonial and non-metropolitan home county in South East England. The county town is Aylesbury, the largest town in the ceremonial county is Milton Keynes and largest town in the non-metropolitan county is High Wycombe....
, and, for his final season, Middlesbrough
Middlesbrough
Middlesbrough is a large town situated on the south bank of the River Tees in north east England, that sits within the ceremonial county of North Yorkshire...
, Yorkshire
Yorkshire
Yorkshire is a historic county of northern England and the largest in the United Kingdom. Because of its great size in comparison to other English counties, functions have been increasingly undertaken over time by its subdivisions, which have also been subject to periodic reform...
.
Career
Kew reached the Football League linesmen's List in 1960 and was promoted to the referees List in 1966. Five years later he was selected to be senior linesman to Norman BurtenshawNorman Burtenshaw
Norman Burtenshaw is an English former football referee, who officiated in the English Football League and was also on the FIFA list...
for the FA Cup Final between Arsenal
Arsenal F.C.
Arsenal Football Club is a professional English Premier League football club based in North London. One of the most successful clubs in English football, it has won 13 First Division and Premier League titles and 10 FA Cups...
and Liverpool
Liverpool F.C.
Liverpool Football Club is an English Premier League football club based in Liverpool, Merseyside. Liverpool has won eighteen League titles, second most in English football, seven FA Cups and a record seven League Cups...
.
In 1972-73
1972-73 in English football
The 1972–73 season was the 93rd season of competitive football in England.-Overview:The Football League announced that a three-up, three-down system would operate between the top two divisions from the following season, rather than the traditional two-up, two-down system...
he made his mark by sending off seven players, the highest ever total at the time. In March 1974 he took charge of a quite extraordinary and controversial 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...
quarter-final between Newcastle United
Newcastle United F.C.
Newcastle United Football Club is an English professional association football club based in Newcastle upon Tyne, Tyne and Wear. The club was founded in 1892 by the merger of Newcastle East End and Newcastle West End, and has played at its current home ground, St James' Park, since the merger...
and Nottingham Forest
Nottingham Forest F.C.
Nottingham Forest Football Club is an English Association Football club based in West Bridgford, Nottingham, that plays in the Football League Championship...
(then in the old Division 2). The Midlands side were already 2-1 up when Kew awarded them a penalty
Penalty kick
A penalty kick is a type of direct free kick in association football, taken from twelve yards out from goal and with only the goalkeeper of the defending team between the penalty taker and the goal.Penalty kicks are performed during normal play...
and then sent off Newcastle defender Pat Howard
Pat Howard (footballer)
Patrick "Pat" Howard is an English former professional footballer who played as a central defender.Born in Dodworth, Barnsley, South Yorkshire, Howard made more than 500 appearances in the Football League. He started his career at Barnsley, spending seven seasons there before signing for Newcastle...
for his protests. Forest scored and, shortly afterwards, Newcastle fans invaded the pitch, causing the game to be suspended. Play re-started after a delay and Newcastle fought back, reducing the deficit and then equalising from a penalty before scoring again to apparently win the game 4-3.
That was not the end of the matter, however. Forest protested about events, claiming that the disruption had worked to Newcastle's advantage. Forest manager
Coach (sport)
In sports, a coach is an individual involved in the direction, instruction and training of the operations of a sports team or of individual sportspeople.-Staff:...
Allan Brown said: "The crowd and the referee undoubtedly won the game for Newcastle. When we were taken off we were playing brilliant stuff. Newcastle were finished. But after the hold up, with the crowd baying all the time, the referee gave everything to Newcastle." There were also concerns that allowing the result to stand would encourage hooliganism. The FA annulled the result and ordered the tie to be replayed at a neutral venue (Goodison Park
Goodison Park
Goodison Park is a football stadium located in Walton, Liverpool, England. The stadium has been home to Everton F.C. since its completion in 1892 and is one of the world's first purpose-built football grounds...
). Newcastle eventually won (again) after a replay. Kew was to see Newcastle again in the Final. They met Liverpool, and were beaten 3-0.
He was appointed to the FIFA List for the following season (1974-75
1974-75 in English football
The 1974–75 season was the 95th season of competitive football in England.- First Division :Dave Mackay guided Derby County to their second league title in four years having overcome strong competition from Liverpool, Ipswich Town, Everton, Stoke City, Manchester City, Sheffield United and...
).
In his retirement year, one last honour came his way when he was appointed to the 1977 League Cup Final between Aston Villa
Aston Villa F.C.
Aston Villa Football Club is an English professional association football club based in Witton, Birmingham. The club was founded in 1874 and have played at their current home ground, Villa Park, since 1897. Aston Villa were founder members of The Football League in 1888. They were also founder...
and Everton
Everton F.C.
Everton Football Club are an English professional association football club from the city of Liverpool. The club competes in the Premier League, the highest level of English football...
at Wembley. This required two replays, at Hillsborough
Hillsborough Stadium
Hillsborough Stadium is the home of Sheffield Wednesday football club, Sheffield, England. Football has been played at the ground since it was opened on 2 September 1899, when Wednesday moved from their original ground at Olive Grove. Today it is a 39,812 capacity all-seater stadium, making it the...
and Old Trafford, before Villa won 3-2. All were refereed by Kew. It is the only major English Final to require three games to resolve the winners.
- Football League Handbooks, 1960–1970
- Rothmans Football Yearbooks, 1971–1977
- Gilbert Upton (2005) Football League and Premiership Referees 1888 to 2005, Soccerdata.