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William
Pickford
Football fan: founding father
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William
Pickford
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William
Pickford helped shape the game which is now so popular around the
world.
His
early sporting love was rugby. His historic switch of allegiance
came in 1878 when he watched a game of football - Bolton playing
Blackburn and District.
William
Pickford went on to draft and popularise the rules of the game.
His book, How to Referee draws on his deep knowledge of this new
game.
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| "My
Weekly Survey": one of thousands of newspaper articles
written for the Portsmouth News between 1902 and 1907 |
Pickford
was a prolific writer. His wrote newspaper articles and was meticulous
in compiling his cuttings scrapbook.
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| William
Pickford House |
William
Pickford's unique contribution to our national game was marked in
1996 when Hampshire FA named its new headquarters after him.
William
Pickford House in Southampton is a permanent reminder of the dedication
showed by a founding father a century earlier.
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| "How
to Referee" - William Pickford's guide |
The
original cover price was one Shilling. The advice, written with
detailed care and affection, is priceless.
Pickford
describes the aim of the book as being to help referees, linesmen...
"and it is hoped to instil a better grasp of essential points
in the minds of a class singluarly ill-informed upon them - the
players."
Chapters
in the book deal with rules, free kicks, unsafe boots. There's a
whole chapter devoted to the offside rule.
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| Neil
Cassar with a rare copy of "How to Referee" |
Adverts
include "Chlorodyne: an effectual remedy for coughs, colds,
consumption."
The
rare copy of this work held in the archives of Hampshire Football
Association was found in a car boot sale in Portsmouth.
Examples
of Pickford's guidance:
Don't
forget that players are not machines, but are human, and possess
a keen sense of injustice.
Don't
let criticism hurt you, some people rejoice to see a referee writhe
under it. It tickles them, and really if you are a good referee
it cannot harm you.
Click
here for more excerpts from
How to Referee
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KEY
DATES
| 1870s |
League
football began
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| 1871 |
Pickford
moved to Bournemouth with family
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1884
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South
Hants and Dorset Football Association formed, inspired by
Pickford
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| 1887 |
Hampshire
FA formed. Pickford was Hon Secretary. A year later became
Treasurer - held role for 50 y7ears
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| 1937/8 |
Pickford
became President of the Football Association. Last person
to combine that honour with role of Chairman of the FA.
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