Recent uproar about a goal being scored and the referee not using the latest technology throws into the air the statement that new technology was the answer.
That’s the view of Lochee’s Andy Walker, who opens: “How did our top referees cope decades ago?
“A game took place in season 1963/64 on Lochee Park.
“I had just finished playing for my school team and, as you did in those times, we were changing behind the goal.
“Our sports teacher Eric Sadler, who was a qualified Scottish referee, said he was going to speak to his two colleagues before they started their game on an adjacent pitch.
“His two fellow-referees in charge of this other game were JPR Gordon, of Newport on Tay, and Bert Crocket (below), from Dundee.
“They were officiating at the U/15 Scottish Cup semi-final between the Dundee Deaf and Dumb select side and their Edinburgh counterparts.
“Each referee took a half, with each team official running their line.
“As in our football today, the flag was raised for all to see that a throw-in, corner, &c, was being awarded but, during play, instead of using a whistle, the referees waved white hankies for the action to halt.
“All decisions were accepted and, to be honest, there were some meaty tackles.
“However, any contentious behaviour immediately ceased with the waving of the hankies.
“Contentious decisions will always happen in football, so my answer is, if it was that easy to referee with just hankies, take the cameras out.
“This will get the fans who go to football talking about the incidents that they saw and putting eye-witness accounts before mistakes by referees that even the cameras cannot prove.”
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