Ken Stephenson

The major Rugby League countries are Australia, New Zealand & England.

Correct. Rugby League does have a World Cup as well, but less countries take part. Rugby Union is far stronger at international level, their World Cup has been extended to 24 Nations, there is also a Southern hemisphere international tournament involving Argentina,Australia,New Zealand&South Africa

Rugby League broke away from Rugby Union in the early 1900s because they wanted to be a professional sport snd introduce a League system while Union wanted to be strictly amateur. Union finally went professional in the 1990s and didn't introduce a League system until professionalism was legalised.

Rugby Union is 15 a side and an amateur sport until the 90s with scrums&lineouts,Rugby League is 13 a side,professional for far longer than Union,after 6 tackles the ball goes to the opposition,the ball is flicked backwards to a teammate after a tackle.Netherlands have played in the Union World Cup.

The Rugby League Law is after the hooter sounds the match finishes after the next tackle.Rugby Union matches end when the ball is out of play(restart normally being a lineout)or an accidental stoppage which would restart with a scrum.The game restarts if a penalty is awarded in either Rugby code.

I also think had Thomas not done that in 1978 he could have been in consideration to referee the World Cup Final, though I do believe the outstanding referees at that tournament were Karoly Palotai and Abraham Klein.

Nope, it is pedantic refereeing, blow the full-time whistle when the ball is either out of play or in a neutral position. Better still the Laws should be changed to Rugby Unions Laws where the game is only ended when the ball is out of play.

Put it this way I wouldnt do it! It would cause a riot on a Sunday League match!

Yes it is Malcolm Sinclair. He was from Guildford in Surrey.

2 top #referees in action in the 1975-76 season from FA Cup QFs at Roker Park (Sunderland V Crystal Palace)&Old Trafford (Man U V Wolves),Clive Thomas from Treorchy & Pat Partridge from Co.Durham.Both refereed at the World Cup,Mr Partridge with no controversy unlike Mr Thomas! @refbooks.bsky.social

1975/76 season - a #referee for @refbooks.bsky.social to identify. Chelsea V Southampton.

Is that a first? @no1lino.bsky.social Pawson kept his cards in his pockets! I bet you enjoyed seeing Everton getting thrashed at home!!

Before the Premier League was formed in 1992 the only Welsh ref I can recall refereeing at Newcastle was Ron Bridges in an FA Cup tie, I think against Exeter in 1980/81. He was from North Wales so only just outside of the geographical range to ref League matches at Newcastle in that era.

It is ITV4, on a Saturday morning at 10:30am. If you have Sky the Channel is 120.

I hope you do!

That surprises me! He reffed a lot of high profile matches particularly later on in his career so I thought you would have had one or two!

It was one of Glen Hoddle's 1st games for Spures aged 17 or 18,he scored a cracking volley in that game.Having met Peter,he hated being referred to as the 1st ref to send a player off in an FA Cup Final,but he did say he never lost 1 seconds sleep over it because he always knew he was correct.

I take screenshots from the Big Match revisited and put them on here. Ive learnt loads about old refs from @refbooks.bsky.social & @refereeretro.bsky.social

Stoke V Tottenham 1975-76. The #referee is Peter Willis from Co.Durham. He was a League ref from 1972 until 1986. @refbooks.bsky.social

The #referee looks like Brian Martin from Leicestershire to me, though I'm not 100% certain. Hes speaking to a Cardiff player here. @refereeretro.bsky.social & @refbooks.bsky.social The match is Colchester V Cardiff from 1975-76.

Yes, that is true, I should have mentioned Roger Kirkpatrick. After Taylor (1977) & Kirkpatrick(1979)retired only Thomas was really well-known.Partridge was probably the top ref until he retired in 81 and Courtney was the No1 after tgat until he retired in 92 but they probably weren't as well-known.

Id say the best known refs were Clive Thomas and Jack Taylor in the 70s. After Jack retired in 1977 nobody was really in the famous bracket in refereeing terms.

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Is 2026 the year a Dutch #referee will finally referee a World Cup Final? @refbooks.bsky.social.

The furthest south ref I know of travelling to Newcastle in the Premier League era is Martin Bodenham from Cornwall. Keith Cooper & Keith Burge also came up a few times from South Wales. Paul Durkin from Dorset was another long distance travell as well.

There is one unofficial Newcastle website i look at but they only identify the referee every match later on, earlier on the referee is only identified when controversy has occurred - example the controversial 1983 FA Cup replay against Brighton the referee (Trelford Mills) is listed.

That Sunderland FA Cup Q-F is the only one I know of him refereeing in the North East. I know for example Burtenshaw and Jack Taylor reffed Newcastle games against Liverpool at St James Park in tge early 70s so I thought Thomas might have then.

If my team were in your position I would be getting hugely excited about the prospect of being Champions!

I missed your comment! I just thought I'd pass comment on it!