Tiny Wharton
Encyclopedia
Tom "Tiny" Wharton OBE
(3 November 1927, in Glasgow
– 9 May 2005, in Newton Mearns
) was a Scottish
football referee in the 1950s, 60s and 70s. Universally and ironically
known as Tiny, due to his colossal 6'4" frame, he was one of the most iconic and respected officials of his generation.
An engineer
by profession, Wharton took up refereeing at the age of 21 and had reached Class I status within 3 years. He refereed a number of important and high profile games during his career, including the Scottish Cup
finals of 1961-62
, 1962-63
, 1965-66
and 1970-71
, and the League Cup
finals of 1960-61
, 1962-63, 1966-67
and 1970-71.
Wharton's prowess was recognised outside Scotland
as well and he officiated 16 international matches, from Belfast
to Brazil
. He also oversaw 24 international club fixtures, including the 1962 Cup Winners Cup Final between Atlético Madrid and Fiorentina at Hampden Park
.
In later years, Wharton was chairman of the Scottish Football Association
's Referee Supervisors Committee between 1976 and 1990 and served as part of FIFA
's Referees Committee between 1981 and 2000. He was awarded the OBE in 1990 for his services to Scottish football and FIFA's Order of Merit in Gold in 1992. He was described by FIFA president Sepp Blatter
as "one of the world's most distinguished refereeing officials".
Order of the British Empire
The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire is an order of chivalry established on 4 June 1917 by George V of the United Kingdom. The Order comprises five classes in civil and military divisions...
(3 November 1927, in Glasgow
Glasgow
Glasgow is the largest city in Scotland and third most populous in the United Kingdom. The city is situated on the River Clyde in the country's west central lowlands...
– 9 May 2005, in Newton Mearns
Newton Mearns
Newton Mearns is a suburban town in East Renfrewshire, Scotland. It lies southwest of Glasgow City Centre on the main road to Ayrshire, above sea level. It has a population of approximately 22,637.The town is part of the Greater Glasgow conurbation...
) was a Scottish
Scotland
Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...
football referee in the 1950s, 60s and 70s. Universally and ironically
Irony
Irony is a rhetorical device, literary technique, or situation in which there is a sharp incongruity or discordance that goes beyond the simple and evident intention of words or actions...
known as Tiny, due to his colossal 6'4" frame, he was one of the most iconic and respected officials of his generation.
An engineer
Engineer
An engineer is a professional practitioner of engineering, concerned with applying scientific knowledge, mathematics and ingenuity to develop solutions for technical problems. Engineers design materials, structures, machines and systems while considering the limitations imposed by practicality,...
by profession, Wharton took up refereeing at the age of 21 and had reached Class I status within 3 years. He refereed a number of important and high profile games during his career, including the Scottish Cup
Scottish Cup
The Scottish Football Association Challenge Cup,, commonly known as the Scottish Cup or the William Hill Scottish Cup for sponsorship purposes, is the main national cup competition in Scottish football. It is a knockout cup competition run by and named after the Scottish Football Association.The...
finals of 1961-62
1961-62 in Scottish football
The 1961–62 season was the 65th season of competitive football in Scotland.-Scottish League Division One:Dundee had an excellent start to the season, including a 5–1 win away to Rangers, and having a seemingly invincible lead by Christmas. A poorrun of form in the new year, including a...
, 1962-63
1962-63 in Scottish football
The 1962–63 season was the 66th season of competitive football in Scotland.-Scottish League Division One:Champions: RangersRelegated: Clyde, Raith Rovers-Scottish League Division Two:Promoted: St...
, 1965-66
1965-66 in Scottish football
The 1965–66 season was the 69th season of Scottish league football.-Overview:After the openness of recent years, the Old Firm came back strongly this season...
and 1970-71
1970-71 in Scottish football
The 1970–71 season was the 74th season of Scottish league football.-Scottish League Division One:Aberdeen, with a 15 game unbeaten run, led the league from December until the last week of the season...
, and the League Cup
Scottish League Cup
The Scottish League Cup is a football competition open to all Scottish Football League and Scottish Premier League clubs. At present it is also known as the Scottish Communities League Cup owing to the sponsorship deal in place with the Scottish Government. In the past it has been sponsored by...
finals of 1960-61
1960-61 in Scottish football
The 1960–61 season was the 64th season of competitive football in Scotland.-Scottish League Division One:Champions: RangersRelegated: Clyde, Ayr United-Scottish League Division Two:Promoted: Stirling Albion, Falkirk...
, 1962-63, 1966-67
1966-67 in Scottish football
The 1966–67 season was the 70th season of Scottish League football.-Overview:A number of significant events occurred during the season...
and 1970-71.
Wharton's prowess was recognised outside Scotland
Scotland
Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...
as well and he officiated 16 international matches, from Belfast
Belfast
Belfast is the capital of and largest city in Northern Ireland. By population, it is the 14th biggest city in the United Kingdom and second biggest on the island of Ireland . It is the seat of the devolved government and legislative Northern Ireland Assembly...
to Brazil
Brazil
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...
. He also oversaw 24 international club fixtures, including the 1962 Cup Winners Cup Final between Atlético Madrid and Fiorentina 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...
.
In later years, Wharton was chairman of the Scottish Football Association
Scottish Football Association
The Scottish Football Association is the governing body of football in Scotland and has the ultimate responsibility for the control and development of football in Scotland. Members of the SFA include clubs in Scotland, affiliated national associations as well as local associations...
's Referee Supervisors Committee between 1976 and 1990 and served as part of 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...
's Referees Committee between 1981 and 2000. He was awarded the OBE in 1990 for his services to Scottish football and FIFA's Order of Merit in Gold in 1992. He was described by FIFA president Sepp Blatter
Sepp Blatter
Joseph S. Blatter , commonly known as Sepp Blatter, is a Swiss football administrator, who serves as the 8th and current President of FIFA . He was elected on 8 June 1998, succeeding João Havelange. He was re-elected as President in 2002, 2007, and 2011...
as "one of the world's most distinguished refereeing officials".
External links
- Obituary by Bob CrampseyBob CrampseyRobert "Bob" Crampsey was a Scottish association football historian, author and broadcaster, described as a "much loved Scottish cultural institution" by The Times...
, The ScotsmanThe ScotsmanThe Scotsman is a British newspaper, published in Edinburgh.As of August 2011 it had an audited circulation of 38,423, down from about 100,000 in the 1980s....
, 12 May 2005 - Obituary by Tam DalyellTam DalyellSir Thomas Dalyell Loch, 11th Baronet , known as Tam Dalyell, is a British Labour Party politician, who was a Member of Parliament in the House of Commons from 1962 to 2005, first for West Lothian and then for Linlithgow.-Early life:...
, The IndependentThe IndependentThe Independent is a British national morning newspaper published in London by Independent Print Limited, owned by Alexander Lebedev since 2010. It is nicknamed the Indy, while the Sunday edition, The Independent on Sunday, is the Sindy. Launched in 1986, it is one of the youngest UK national daily...
, 16 May 2005