INTERESTING FACTS RELATING TO
WIMBLEDON & DISTRICT SOCIETY
OF ASSOCIATION REFEREEES
AND THE LAWS OF ASSOCIATION FOOTBALL

Taken from a Publication
Marks out of 100
History of the Wimbledon & District Football League 1898 – 1997
by DAVID FOWKES 

The society was formed during the opening months of the 1928-9 season.19thJune 1931
Footballers will welcome the change which has been made in the throw-in law. It means that if a player makes a foul throw, instead of a free-kick being awarded the other side will now take the throw-in.   Wander column, Wimbledon Boro’News.4th

September 1931
At a meeting of the Wimbledon & District Society of Association Referees, (W&D Refs Soc.) at Wimbledon Hill Hotel, the assistant secretary, S L Richards, 17 Clarence Road, Wimbledon offers help to those wishing to become qualified referees. The society will prepare all candidates for the Surrey FA examinations.

June 1935
A FA proposal to use two referees in matches for the first two games of next season, as an experiment, has been dropped. ‘What we need is more efficient referees’ says ‘Bee in his ‘World of Sport’ column in the Wimbledon Boro’ News. Such a comment would not have pleased the secretary of the W&D Refs Soc. A E Hives of 224 Martin Way, Raynes Park.

10thJune 1936
A new rule stating that from a goal kick the ball must be kicked directly into the field of play comes into being next season. Hitherto it has been permissable, and, indeed was the usual practice for a back to touch the ball into the hands of the goalkeeper, who then kicked it up field. It was also customary for an attacking forward to wait in the penalty area and to rush in the direction of the goalkeeper immediately the back touched the ball to the custodian. No doubt the rule has been altered with a view to protecting goalkeepers from the risk of injury when being challenged by attacking forwards.
Wimbledon Boro’ News

18th June 1937
The‘D’ will be added to the penalty area markings next season.
‘The International Board changed the penalty law to: No player other than the one taking the kick will be allowed to encroach, so that in future it will be impossible for players on a defending side to put an opponent off his penalty kick. Something of this kind has been needed for a long time.’
Sports and sportsmen’ column, Wimbledon Boro’ News

25th April 1947
The annual dinner of the W&D Refs Soc. At Kennards restaurant is presided over by branch president FH Newson. After dinner the company were entertained by Barbara, Joy and Pam, three young ladies who tap dance and sing.

15th April 1949
The final ties for the Wimbledon & District Football League Jubilee Challenge cup, presented by alderman CW Black, JP, Grosvenor United FC meet Wimbledon Crusaders FC on Saturday week in section A, kick-off 6.30pm referee H E Dodds, while in section B, Lines Bros FC meet Merton Board Mills FC on Tuesday 26th April, kick-off 6.30pm referee J Mitchell, (Former President of this Society).Both games will be at Plough Lane.
Wimbledon Boro’ News

June 1951
Obstruction is now included as an offence, punishable by an indirect free-kick.

4th July 1952
At their annual general meeting the Surrey FA announce referees fees in Surrey FA cup competitions are set at; 7/6d for all rounds, semi finals and finals 10/6d, and linesmen at 5/-d. In all cases third class rail fare could also be claimed on top of fees.
In the final ties for the Wimbledon & District Football League Jubilee Challenge cup, presented by alderman CW Black, JP, Grosvenor United FC meet Wimbledon Crusaders FC on Saturday week in section A, kick-off 6.30pm referee H E Dodds, while in section B, Lines Bros FC meet Merton Board Mills FC

26August 1955
Extract from the secretary’s annual report for the Wimbledon & District Football League.
The completion of the League programme was due to the sterling work put in by the fixture secretary – Jack Fuller, (Former President of this Society). Remember he started from scratch, but got on top of   a difficult job with credit. One must alos remember that all our clubs do not possess their own private ground, and have to take what dates are offered them by the local councils with the consequence that many of them have the same home dates.
I have always a soft spot for any referee’s secretary. Ted Bouldin does deserve the thanks of all of us for the way he has, again, tackled a huge problem. An average of forty games per week and a referee to be found for all of them. How and where he finds them I do not know, but he has our sincere thanks for a grand job of work, and he has been doing it for twenty six years now - what a record.  W E Tutt Hon. Secretary

23rd January 1959
W&D Refs Soc. Secretary, HL Witt 49 Hillcross Avenue, Morden , makes an impassioned appeal for more referees. He also complains that the more senior referees, who have made the grade at a higher level having started with the Wimbledon RA, take no further interest once they have achieved their status.

25th March 1968
Soccer match at Acton yesterday between the prison officers of Wormwood Scrubs and Wandsworth was refereed by…..J Crook. (Current President)

Daily Mirror 20th March 1970
John Crook officiates at the amateur international at Dulwich Hamlet FC between England and Scotland.

November 1973
Wimbledon & District Football League management committee decide to introduce a ‘Referee of the Year’ award, the first to be awarded at the end of the current season.

May 1974
John Crook is elected first winner of the W&D F L Referee of the Year.

May 1975
At the presentation dance of the W&D F L special awards are presented to referees CB Parker, in appreciation of services to the League, and LE Vickers, to mark twenty five years on the panel of referees.

May 1976
At the presentation dance of the W&D F L referees H C Hacker, P S Hodkin and H W Turner receive long service awards.

May 1980
Referee E E Jennings is presented with a long service award at the annual presentation dance at Wimbledon Town Hall.

May 1985
Referee G L Senior receives a long service award.