1. George Reader was an English football referee, known for officiating in the 1950 FIFA World Cup Final.
13 Facts About George Reader
1. 2.
George Reader is the first Englishman to do so, and the oldest match official at any World Cup in history.
3.
Unfortunately, given Rawling's abilities, George Reader was unable to break into the side and played only three times in the old Third Division 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.
4.
George Reader first took up refereeing in 1930, appearing on Southampton Common, and progressed through the promotional system with an alacrity that underlined his ability and experience.
5.
However, during hostilities, George Reader featured prominently in wartime football, and was appointed as referee in two War Cup finals and the British Home Championship and then, towards the end of hostilities, was appointed to take charge of Victory internationals between England and allied national teams.
6.
George Reader 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 taking charge of matches in 1949 in Stockholm, and in Geneva and Lisbon.
7.
George Reader 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.
8.
George Reader had refereed two matches prior to the final group: the opening game and Uruguay'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.
9.
George Reader was appointed to referee this match, with Ellis and Mitchell running the lines.
10.
Varela strode up to George Reader and started arguing incomprehensibly in Spanish to the monolingual referee.
11.
Uruguay went on to win and George Reader returned home to Hanley Road in Southampton and promptly retired from refereeing, stating that he had had everything that football can give him.
12.
George Reader ended his teaching career as headmaster of Western School, Shirley, in 1960.
13.
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.