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 Jimmy
emigrated to the United States in 1905 and played in
Philadelphia.
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Personal Information |
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Class of 1971 |
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Born:
1886
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Dewsbury, Yorkshire, England |
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Died:
May, 1979 -
Philadelphia, PA |
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But one afternoon in 1909 he was on the grounds
of the Lighthouse Boys Club waiting for a game to start when
it was realized that the referee hadn't turned up. Pressed
into service, Jimmy took the whistle and thereby began a
career which spanned six decades. In 1913 he was present when
the United States Football Association (now the USSF) was
formed in New York and immediately became a member of the
referee's association. During this year he also managed the
Philadelphia Soccer Club. However, it was during the 1920s and
30s that Jimmy rose to prominence as one of the top referees
in the land.
He was chosen to handle the U.S. Open Cup Final
between the New York Nationals and Chicago Bricklayers in
1928, and the 1937 final between St. Louis Shamrocks and New
York Americans. He
also handled the controversial game between the national team
of Uruguay and Newark in 1927 which ended in the riot squad
having to be called out. Over the years he estimated that he
had refereed over 3,000 college games and about 1,400 at the
professional and other levels in a 60 year career that lasted
from 1909 to 1969.
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