Roger Dilkes
Encyclopedia
Roger Dilkes is an English
former football
referee who officiated in the Football League
and Premier League. During his time on the List he was based in Mossley
, Lancashire
.
between Everton and Liverpool. This would be a key match in any circumstances but took on far greater significance as Liverpool were aiming to set a (then) record of thirty matches unbeaten from the start of the season. Everton won 1-0, inflicting one of only two League defeats all season on Liverpool, who subsequently won the Title.
He continued to receive good appointments, many in the old First Division
, as well as Lancashire derbies. He did not achieve FIFA
status - he may have been unlucky in that only one vacancy occurred during his most eligible years. When more opportunities arose in 1992 he was then too old according to FIFA's newly-introduced age criteria.
Dilkes was nevertheless chosen as one of the first set of Premier League referees for the 1992-93
season, and he retained this position for the final five years of his career. This period also saw him handle his most senior Cup appointments. The pinnacle was an FA Cup
semi-final in 1994 between Chelsea and Luton Town. Two years later he officiated in a League Cup
semi-final second leg as Leeds United
overcame Birmingham City. The following year he took charge of an FA Cup quarter-final between Sheffield Wednesday and Wimbledon before retiring at the end of the 1996-97
campaign.
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 football
Football (soccer)
Association football, more commonly known as football or soccer, is a sport played between two teams of eleven players with a spherical ball...
referee who officiated 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...
and Premier League. During his time on the List he was based in Mossley
Mossley
Mossley is a small town and civil parish within the Metropolitan Borough of Tameside, in Greater Manchester, England. The town is located in the upper section of the Tame valley in the foothills of the Pennines, northeast of Ashton-under-Lyne and east of Manchester.Mossley has the distinction of...
, Lancashire
Lancashire
Lancashire is a non-metropolitan county of historic origin in the North West of England. It takes its name from the city of Lancaster, and is sometimes known as the County of Lancaster. Although Lancaster is still considered to be the county town, Lancashire County Council is based in Preston...
.
Career
Dilkes became a Football League linesman in 1980 and reached the Referees List just three years later at the age of thirty four. In March 1988 he handled the Merseyside derbyMerseyside derby
The Merseyside derby is the name given to any football match contested between Everton and Liverpool football clubs, the two most successful clubs from the city of Liverpool in England...
between Everton and Liverpool. This would be a key match in any circumstances but took on far greater significance as Liverpool were aiming to set a (then) record of thirty matches unbeaten from the start of the season. Everton won 1-0, inflicting one of only two League defeats all season on Liverpool, who subsequently won the Title.
He continued to receive good appointments, many in the old First Division
Football League First Division
The First Division was a division of The Football League between 1888 and 2004 and the highest division in English football until the creation of the Premier League in 1992. The secondary tier in English football has since become known as the Championship....
, as well as Lancashire derbies. He did not achieve FIFA
FIFA
The Fédération Internationale de Football Association , commonly known by the acronym FIFA , is the international governing body of :association football, futsal and beach football. Its headquarters are located in Zurich, Switzerland, and its president is Sepp Blatter, who is in his fourth...
status - he may have been unlucky in that only one vacancy occurred during his most eligible years. When more opportunities arose in 1992 he was then too old according to FIFA's newly-introduced age criteria.
Dilkes was nevertheless chosen as one of the first set of Premier League referees for the 1992-93
1992-93 in English football
The 1992–1993 season was the 113th season of competitive football in England.-Overview:This season saw the birth of the FA Premier League. This meant a break-up of the 104-year-old Football League that had operated until then with four divisions....
season, and he retained this position for the final five years of his career. This period also saw him handle his most senior Cup appointments. The pinnacle was an FA Cup
FA Cup
The Football Association Challenge Cup, commonly known as the FA Cup, is a knockout cup competition in English football and is the oldest association football competition in the world. The "FA Cup" is run by and named after The Football Association and usually refers to the English men's...
semi-final in 1994 between Chelsea and Luton Town. Two years later he officiated in a 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...
semi-final second leg as Leeds United
Leeds United A.F.C.
Leeds United Association Football Club are an English professional association football club based in Beeston, Leeds, West Yorkshire, who play in the Football League Championship, the second tier of the English football league system...
overcame Birmingham City. The following year he took charge of an FA Cup quarter-final between Sheffield Wednesday and Wimbledon before retiring at the end of the 1996-97
1996-97 in English football
The 1996–1997 season was the 117th season of competitive football in England.Arrival into the league and exit out of the league returns in the fourth tier for the first time after its 3 season absence with only 1 relegation spot.- Premier League :...
campaign.
External links
- Roger Dilkes Referee Statistics (incomplete) at soccerbase.com