A couple of times I found a ball and me and my mate would sneak out on to the pitch for a quick penalty or two, but the booming voice of Mr Leivers had us scuttling for cover: ‘Oi, you lads, get off the bloody pitch!' – and rightly so.
I recall the time I suffered a bad ligament injury playing rugby at school, just before an FA Youth Cup game. I played for Ely Crusaders and we were up against Corby Town – a massive occasion for us young lads. My ankle had turned blue and Dad rang Bill Leivers at home for advice. Bill was kind enough to put us in touch with the club physio John Simpson, who when he wasn’t working his magic with the United boys was a budgerigar trainer, as I remember. I had a very special 40 minutes on John’s treatment table, open mouthed at his crackling ultraviolet glass wand. It helped, but we lost.
Much of the treasurer’s time in those days was spent supporting the fundraising work of Dudley Arliss and his sales team in the pools office. Dudley’s work helped to give the U’s the sound financial foundation they needed to challenge for a place in Div 4. We were very pleased to have Dudley’s son Barry with us at Dad’s funeral in June 2015.
When Dad wasn’t at United or Progressive Coaches, he was refereeing. When he retired from reffing in 2002 he was 75 and had officiated in 2,100 games over a 56-year career. He usually reffed in local leagues but would occasionally get a local amateur cup final or an early rounds FA Cup match.
One particularly proud moment was a 1967 Cup local derby between Kettering and Wellingborough. Dad reffed the first game, which was a draw. He did well and was appointed to take charge of the replay at the Dog and Duck ground. By the time of the game, which was played in front of a record 4,500, the draw for the next round had been made and it was known the winners would play Cambridge United. Bill Leivers was there to watch the replay, and this time even the local paper commented on the fine run-out by the Shelford referee. To top it off, Bill spoke to him after the match and said: ‘Well done John, best referee I’ve seen all season.’ I have never seen my Dad smile so broadly as then.
He would always take a whistle and stopwatch to United games just in case, and many was the time during his ten years there that the ref or linesman would feel ill or pull a muscle and Dad would be called on to take up the flag in Southern League matches – often in borrowed trackie bottoms. The club often had to find its own referee for pre-season and testimonial matches and he would turn out, happily doing what he knew best. I have old matchday programmes showing him as ref or linesman in games at the Abbey, including Rodney Slack’s benefit match in 1966 and games against Hapoel Tel Aviv (1963), Notts County (1966), Norwich City (1967) and Chelsea (1968).
Interviewed by the Cambridge Evening News in 1996, as he notched up 50 years as a ref, John said: ‘I have never achieved much, been anywhere in particular, or done anything special to mention.’ Well, I beg to differ. It is plain that he spent his life devoted to other people’s causes, whether in sport or business. Never a penny was earned from his work at Cambridge United and little more than travelling expenses came from 56 years as a football referee. He did both jobs because he loved them dearly.
In retirement, after a long accounting career with Pye, Philips and Cambridge Electronic Industries, he found time to take on the books of many local businesses: printers, hairdressers, shopkeepers, garage owners. He would help with company formation, explain tax rules and do battle with the Inland Revenue if required. He preferred not to ask a fee from smaller businesses, simply saying it was his pleasure to be a help. Thanks for all your help, John.
I recall the time I suffered a bad ligament injury playing rugby at school, just before an FA Youth Cup game. I played for Ely Crusaders and we were up against Corby Town – a massive occasion for us young lads. My ankle had turned blue and Dad rang Bill Leivers at home for advice. Bill was kind enough to put us in touch with the club physio John Simpson, who when he wasn’t working his magic with the United boys was a budgerigar trainer, as I remember. I had a very special 40 minutes on John’s treatment table, open mouthed at his crackling ultraviolet glass wand. It helped, but we lost.
Much of the treasurer’s time in those days was spent supporting the fundraising work of Dudley Arliss and his sales team in the pools office. Dudley’s work helped to give the U’s the sound financial foundation they needed to challenge for a place in Div 4. We were very pleased to have Dudley’s son Barry with us at Dad’s funeral in June 2015.
When Dad wasn’t at United or Progressive Coaches, he was refereeing. When he retired from reffing in 2002 he was 75 and had officiated in 2,100 games over a 56-year career. He usually reffed in local leagues but would occasionally get a local amateur cup final or an early rounds FA Cup match.
One particularly proud moment was a 1967 Cup local derby between Kettering and Wellingborough. Dad reffed the first game, which was a draw. He did well and was appointed to take charge of the replay at the Dog and Duck ground. By the time of the game, which was played in front of a record 4,500, the draw for the next round had been made and it was known the winners would play Cambridge United. Bill Leivers was there to watch the replay, and this time even the local paper commented on the fine run-out by the Shelford referee. To top it off, Bill spoke to him after the match and said: ‘Well done John, best referee I’ve seen all season.’ I have never seen my Dad smile so broadly as then.
He would always take a whistle and stopwatch to United games just in case, and many was the time during his ten years there that the ref or linesman would feel ill or pull a muscle and Dad would be called on to take up the flag in Southern League matches – often in borrowed trackie bottoms. The club often had to find its own referee for pre-season and testimonial matches and he would turn out, happily doing what he knew best. I have old matchday programmes showing him as ref or linesman in games at the Abbey, including Rodney Slack’s benefit match in 1966 and games against Hapoel Tel Aviv (1963), Notts County (1966), Norwich City (1967) and Chelsea (1968).
Interviewed by the Cambridge Evening News in 1996, as he notched up 50 years as a ref, John said: ‘I have never achieved much, been anywhere in particular, or done anything special to mention.’ Well, I beg to differ. It is plain that he spent his life devoted to other people’s causes, whether in sport or business. Never a penny was earned from his work at Cambridge United and little more than travelling expenses came from 56 years as a football referee. He did both jobs because he loved them dearly.
In retirement, after a long accounting career with Pye, Philips and Cambridge Electronic Industries, he found time to take on the books of many local businesses: printers, hairdressers, shopkeepers, garage owners. He would help with company formation, explain tax rules and do battle with the Inland Revenue if required. He preferred not to ask a fee from smaller businesses, simply saying it was his pleasure to be a help. Thanks for all your help, John.
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