Peter Willis
Encyclopedia
Peter N. Willis is an English
former association football referee, who operated in the Football League
. He originates from Newfield
, near Bishop Auckland
, County Durham
, but now lives in Meadowfield
. His other occupation was as a police officer
.
and Quarrington Hill
, also playing football for their local teams. Throughout his career, his wife Helen had been "hugely supportive".
He became a Football League linesman in 1968, and progressed to their list of referees in 1971.
He was appointed to the Football League Cup
Final of 1982, when Liverpool
defeated Tottenham
3–1, after extra time.
Willis refereed the 1985 FA Cup Final between Manchester United
and Everton
, which United won 1–0, courtesy of a Norman Whiteside
goal during extra time. In the 78th minute of normal time, Kevin Moran of Manchester United was given a straight red card by him, after a foul on Everton's Peter Reid
40 yards (36.6 m) away from goal. In a 2002 newspaper article, Willis commented: "Moran just kicked him. Peter Reid might well have gone higher up in the air than he needed to but I saw what happened and I had a decision to make. I either put the whistle on the ground and walked off, or applied the laws of the game and sent him off."
Moran puts his side of it in a 2006 interview: "... I didn't think it was a foul; I had no intention of pulling Peter Reid down and felt I never touched him. I went into the tackle from the side and his momentum flicked him over, as if I'd clattered him. I couldn't believe it when I got a straight red."
Moran therefore became the first player ever to be dismissed from the field of play in an FA Cup Final. Willis said: "It's never caused me a problem. I've never felt guilty about it, because it was the right decision. I just wish it hadn't happened because I'd rather be remembered for other reasons." (The Red Card was not shown, because Red & Yellow Cards were not shown in English Football League matches between 1980 and August 1987.)
He is said to be one of only five freemasons to have been in charge of an FA Cup Final.
He was president of the Referees' Association from 1984 to 2002. He suffered a stroke
in 2000, which was a factor in his deciding to stand down from the presidency.
At the annual dinner of the Durham County Referees' Society, held at Bishop Auckland Town Hall on November 23, 2002, Willis was honoured with a life membership of the Referees' Association.
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
former association football referee, who operated in the Football League
The Football League
The Football League, also known as the npower Football League for sponsorship reasons, is a league competition featuring professional association football clubs from England and Wales. Founded in 1888, it is the oldest such competition in world football...
. He originates from Newfield
Newfield, Bishop Auckland
Newfield is a village in County Durham, in England. It is situated to the south of Willington, near Bishop Auckland....
, near Bishop Auckland
Bishop Auckland
Bishop Auckland is a market town and civil parish in County Durham in north east England. It is located about northwest of Darlington and southwest of Durham at the confluence of the River Wear with its tributary the River Gaunless...
, County Durham
County Durham
County Durham is a ceremonial county and unitary district in north east England. The county town is Durham. The largest settlement in the ceremonial county is the town of Darlington...
, but now lives in Meadowfield
Meadowfield
Meadowfield is a small village in County Durham, England, situated approximately 2 miles south-west of Durham on the A690. It is situated within the civil parish of Brandon and Byshottles....
. His other occupation was as a police officer
Police officer
A police officer is a warranted employee of a police force...
.
Early life
He was educated at Spennymoor Grammar School, and later played amateur football for Tow Law Town. He was signed by Newcastle United, but never played above reserve level for them, eventually giving up to join the police force. He served at CassopCassop
Cassop is a village in County Durham, in England. It has a population of about 500 and is located near the city of Durham...
and Quarrington Hill
Quarrington Hill
Quarrington Hill is a village in County Durham, in England. It is situated a short distance to the north of Kelloe.Having been part of the extensive parish of Kelloe, it merged with the village of Cassop during the 19th Century to form the parish of Cassop-cum-Quarrington...
, also playing football for their local teams. Throughout his career, his wife Helen had been "hugely supportive".
Career
Before one of those local matches in 1963, the appointed referee failed to turn up. Willis took charge of the game, and soon after formally trained as a referee.He became a Football League linesman in 1968, and progressed to their list of referees in 1971.
He was appointed to the Football League Cup
Football League Cup
The Football League Cup, commonly known as the League Cup or, from current sponsorship, the Carling Cup, is an English association football competition. Like the FA Cup, it is played on a knockout basis...
Final of 1982, when Liverpool
Liverpool F.C.
Liverpool Football Club is an English Premier League football club based in Liverpool, Merseyside. Liverpool has won eighteen League titles, second most in English football, seven FA Cups and a record seven League Cups...
defeated Tottenham
Tottenham Hotspur F.C.
Tottenham Hotspur Football Club , commonly referred to as Spurs, is an English Premier League football club based in Tottenham, north London. The club's home stadium is White Hart Lane....
3–1, after extra time.
Willis refereed the 1985 FA Cup Final between Manchester United
Manchester United F.C.
Manchester United Football Club is an English professional football club, based in Old Trafford, Greater Manchester, that plays in the Premier League. Founded as Newton Heath LYR Football Club in 1878, the club changed its name to Manchester United in 1902 and moved to Old Trafford in 1910.The 1958...
and Everton
Everton F.C.
Everton Football Club are an English professional association football club from the city of Liverpool. The club competes in the Premier League, the highest level of English football...
, which United won 1–0, courtesy of a Norman Whiteside
Norman Whiteside
Norman Whiteside is a former Northern Ireland international footballer who played in two World Cups.He appeared for Manchester United and Everton, before his career was ended by injury at the age of 26. He won the FA Cup twice during his time playing for Manchester United, in 1983 and 1985...
goal during extra time. In the 78th minute of normal time, Kevin Moran of Manchester United was given a straight red card by him, after a foul on Everton's Peter Reid
Peter Reid
Peter Reid is an English football manager, pundit and retired player, who is currently without a club since his departure from Plymouth Argyle.A defensive midfielder in his playing days, Reid enjoyed a long and successful career...
40 yards (36.6 m) away from goal. In a 2002 newspaper article, Willis commented: "Moran just kicked him. Peter Reid might well have gone higher up in the air than he needed to but I saw what happened and I had a decision to make. I either put the whistle on the ground and walked off, or applied the laws of the game and sent him off."
Moran puts his side of it in a 2006 interview: "... I didn't think it was a foul; I had no intention of pulling Peter Reid down and felt I never touched him. I went into the tackle from the side and his momentum flicked him over, as if I'd clattered him. I couldn't believe it when I got a straight red."
Moran therefore became the first player ever to be dismissed from the field of play in an FA Cup Final. Willis said: "It's never caused me a problem. I've never felt guilty about it, because it was the right decision. I just wish it hadn't happened because I'd rather be remembered for other reasons." (The Red Card was not shown, because Red & Yellow Cards were not shown in English Football League matches between 1980 and August 1987.)
He is said to be one of only five freemasons to have been in charge of an FA Cup Final.
He was president of the Referees' Association from 1984 to 2002. He suffered a stroke
Stroke
A stroke, previously known medically as a cerebrovascular accident , is the rapidly developing loss of brain function due to disturbance in the blood supply to the brain. This can be due to ischemia caused by blockage , or a hemorrhage...
in 2000, which was a factor in his deciding to stand down from the presidency.
At the annual dinner of the Durham County Referees' Society, held at Bishop Auckland Town Hall on November 23, 2002, Willis was honoured with a life membership of the Referees' Association.