RIP Harold. I remember when I started out as a referee. Us Newbys attended a Barnsley Referees Association meeting which was chaired by Harold. He introduced us to the meeting got us all to stand to take the applause, as soon as everyone stopped clapping he said we should make the most of it as it would be the last time we got applauded as a referee.
RIP Harold. wasn't he a top flight ref? 60's, possibly 50's. he musta been a grand age. From Kendray?
He was in the stand when it was the Bradford fire and went out of Kings Cross station not long before that fire started. I’ve been with him to loads of games when he was a referees assessor, and in his house on Rotherham Road when George Courtney, or Ken Redfern or Neil Midgley all stayed there when they reffed. Used to see him regularly when I worked in courts and he was a magistrate, he always came in the office for a chat with me, and the others. He was old school, but fair and funny. He did a lot of football presentations and after dinner speaking. A character, was Mr. H.
Originally from Donny, he Died around a month or so ago. Was in 1959 when he got put on the fl register . Last game in charge 1977 according to records. My dad knew him well. And with him and and another friend. Got to get to quite a few cup finals through the 60s/early 70’s cos of the links with the referees association. RIP Sir.
Yes - and Chairman of the Licensing Committee in his time! I had an interesting account of Mr H's last game in the middle at Hull from his linesman and fellow magistrate ( at Rotherham) Arnold Challinor. Different times!
I met him a couple of times, I think he worked for the FA as an referees assessor for a number of years RIP
Ken Redfearn! Bloody hell. He refereed me in a game against Wallsend about three years ago. He could barely move so much strapping around his knees. But what a giant of a man, in every respect.
Just remembered something that I think was attributed to Harold Hackney. He was refereeing at Liverpool in the late 60s and as both teams and officials gathered in the tunnel prior to kick-off, Tommy Smith I think it was said to an opponent, ‘ If you come anywhere near me today I’m going to break both your legs’ The opponent shouted out. ‘Hey did you hear that ref’ to which Harold replied ‘Aye I did’ Opponent said ‘well aren’t you going to say anything’ Harold replied ‘Aye, if I was thee I’d keep away from him’
loved his stories, he once told us when he reffereed in america one gerd muller didnot like a desission he made and was running up to him, he pointed at his boots and said if tha says owt i,'ll not buy thi boots any more. Muller says you good man and went off
Some good anecdotes and nice tributes... if anyone has any souvenirs etc relating to Barnsley referees to add to this album on to share with the world, please get in touch. Thanks.... https://www.flickr.com/photos/barnsleycollector/albums/72157708985404873
They used to stay at his house whenever they were reffing us. He was big, Redfearn. Courteney was alright, and Midgley was very funny. I remember a couple of HH’s stories. He was reffing in London on Heathrow’s flight path and one came low over the ground. He was looking up watching it and missed a foul. One player ran up to him saying he must have seen it, and he said he did but didn't know if it was a jumbo jet or a 747.
I used to go to the Barnsley Referees Association dinners with a mate of mine. Harold Hackney, Dave Phillips and Trelford Mills ran the show. Harold once told the story of an opposition player shouting to a penalty taker, "I'll bet you £20 you miss it" to which Harold shouted back. "I'll bet thi £20 he takes it ageean if he does. "
