- David Elleray
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David Elleray 
Personal information Full name David Roland Elleray Born 3 September 1954
Dover, Kent, EnglandOther occupation Geography teacher Domestic Years League Role ?–? Hellenic League Referee ?–? Isthmian League Referee 1983–1992 Football League Referee 1992–2003 Premier League Referee International Years League Role 1992–1999 FIFA listed Referee David Roland Elleray (born 3 September 1954[1] in Kent), is an English former football referee, who officiated in the Football League, the FA Premier League and for FIFA.
Contents
Career
Elleray began refereeing in 1968 at the age of 13 in Dover where he regularly attended meetings of the Dover Branch of the Referees' Association. While at the University of Oxford, he was promoted through the Hellenic, Isthmian and Panel Leagues to become a Football League referee in 1983. He remained there until his inclusion on the original Premier League Referees’ List in 1992, and also became a FIFA referee in that year.[2]
Elleray is a career geography teacher, currently at Harrow School, where he was director of boarding and house master of Druries House before his retirement in 2009. His teaching role entailed time conflicts with his role as a leading referee before his retirement. Elleray stepped down as a FIFA Referee in 1999, having officiated in 78 International matches in 35 different countries. He officiated at Wembley Stadium 13 times but was unable to officiate at the World Cup Finals in France in 1998 due to commitments at Harrow School.
One of the most recognisable figures in football, Elleray’s life featured in an award-winning documentary "The Man in Black" for Channel 4.
In 2002 Elleray was voted onto the FA Council as the member for Independent Schools.[3]
He retired from refereeing following his Premiership appointment at Newcastle on 3 May 2003, when they beat Birmingham 1-0, the away side's Matthew Upson being sent off during the match.[4]
Incidents of note
During his refereeing career, Elleray is remembered for a number of incidents:
- Failing to give Birmingham City a penalty in the 2001 Worthington Cup Final after Andy Johnson was brought down in the penalty area.
- Awarding a dubious penalty to Manchester United in the FA Cup Final against Chelsea in 1994.[5] Elleray admitted in his autobiography, that he blew without thinking and although he knew he had made a major mistake, he could not change his mind.[6]
- Failed to award Chesterfield a goal during the FA Cup semi final of 1997. A shot had hit the crossbar and then bounced over the line but was cleared by the Middlesbrough defence. Elleray failed to notice that a goal had been scored (however his assistant did, but was waved off) and play continued with the game ending 3-3 after extra time. Had the goal been given, the Spireites would have gained a 3-1 lead, and in his autobiography Elleray disputes the reason for disallowing the goal.[7]
- Counting an own goal against Peter Enckelman after a throw in pass. It is disputed as to whether Enkelman touched the ball with the studs on his boots and some believe it should have been a corner.
- For being the referee when Ryan Giggs scored his ‘wonder goal’ in the 1999 FA Cup semi-final replay against Arsenal at Villa Park, and the day when David Beckham scored from his own half against Wimbledon in 1996.[8]
- For having dismissed Roy Keane four times.[9]
- For failing to dismiss Arsenal's Steve Bould in January 1998 when he pulled down Chelsea striker Gianluca Vialli who was clear on goal in a league game. As a result, Elleray was suspended for one match.
However, he was constantly recognised by coaches, players and fans for being a firm, fair and consistent referee. For example, after the 1994 FA Cup final, UEFA President Lennart Johnson told Elleray, "Europe needs referees like you. I do not care whether the second penalty was a foul or not. The easy decision would to have given nothing. You showed strength and courage. Congratulations!"
Since retiring
In 2004 he accepted the position as Honorary President of The Board of the Referees’ Association of England for three years,[3] and is a FIFA and UEFA referee assessor and instructor.
References
- ^ Birthdate confirmation (German) at Weltfußball.de website.
- ^ Interview: Singer & Friedlander (at the University of Leicester).
- ^ a b Biographical quotes: Forum at OfficialSports.co.uk website.
- ^ Last ever match as referee, Newcastle v. Birmingham, 2003: soccerbase.com website.
- ^ Controversial penalty to Man Utd, 1994 FA Cup Final, v. Chelsea: match details from ManUtdZone.com website.
- ^ David Elleray,The Man In The Middle Time Warner Books, 2004. p116 ISBN 0-316-72714-8
- ^ Goal not given, for Chesterfield against Middlesbrough, 1997 FA Cup semi-final: the FA Cup at Everything2.com website.
- ^ "David Elleray". http://www.nyt.co.uk/david-elleray.htm. Retrieved 2007-11-13.
- ^ http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p_st29mlQwU%7C
External links
- David Elleray Referee Statistics at soccerbase.com
- Sunday Times article 10 January, 2010
Preceded by
Keren BarrattFA Cup Final Referee
1994Succeeded by
Gerald AshbyCategories:- 1954 births
- Living people
- People from Dover, Kent
- Alumni of the University of Oxford
- English football referees
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