John Taylor Football referee Date of Birth: 21.04.1930 Country: Great Britain

1. The Footballing Referee
2. A Life in Officiating
3. The World Stage
4. The Final Farewell
5. A Bottle of Beer and a Silver Platter
6. A Career Built on Dedication
7. A Moment in History
8. A Match of Controversy
9. A Language Barrier
10. An Unforgettable Accolade

The Footballing Referee

Later than anyone else that evening, Jack Taylor had a single goal on his mind: to be home with his 25-year-old wife, Susan. But as he made his exit, a boy emerged from the shadows and asked, "Are you the referee?" Extending a can of beer, he said, "My father doesn't always agree with you, but he thinks you're better than the rest. He said to give this to you." This can of beer was one of the most cherished accolades in Jack's extensive career.

A Life in Officiating

John Keith Taylor, born on May 21, 1930, etched his name into the annals of football history as one of FIFA's top referees and the second-best official of the mid-20th century. His career was marked by an unprecedented achievement: the Professional Footballers' Association award in 1974 for officiating the World Cup Final. This honor, typically bestowed upon players, made him the sole referee to receive it. Additionally, Taylor was awarded the Order of the British Empire in 1975.

Throughout his career, Taylor officiated 650 English League matches, as well as matches in the FA Cup and European club competitions. Most notably, he presided over the 1971 European Champions Cup Final.

The World Stage

Taylor represented English referees at three World Cups: 1966 (two matches as a linesman), 1970 (Italy-Sweden as a linesman and three other matches), and 1974 (Bulgaria-Uruguay, East Germany-Argentina, the final between West Germany and the Netherlands, and two more as a linesman).

The Final Farewell

The final match of Taylor's career, played at Liverpool's Anfield in 1977, was not his best. Legendary manager Bill Shankly famously told him, "You can do better than that."

Despite the occasional boos, tomatoes hurled at him in Europe, Asia, and Latin America, and coins tinkling on his doorstep in mock bribery, Taylor remained a respected figure.

A Bottle of Beer and a Silver Platter

That evening, as Taylor walked away from Anfield, a young boy approached him with a can of beer. "My father doesn't always agree with you," the boy said, "but he thinks you're better than the rest." This gesture became one of the most memorable moments of Taylor's life.

Another cherished reward was a silver platter presented to him by the Professional Footballers' Association at a function in London's Park Lane. This award, typically given to players, further solidified Taylor's unique status in the game.

A Career Built on Dedication

Taylor's initial aspiration was to become a professional player, but his passion for football led him to pursue refereeing. In postwar England, the Football Association faced a shortage of referees, and at the age of 23, Taylor began his career as a linesman. By 26, he was a top-flight referee, and by 44, he had earned the privilege of officiating at his third World Cup.

A Moment in History

Taylor etched his name into football lore during the 1974 World Cup Final. Within 80 seconds, Johan Cruyff was brought down in the German penalty area. Taylor promptly awarded a penalty, a decision that escalated tensions. However, the Germans remained composed, with only Franz Beckenbauer uttering a subtle "You are English," a testament to his respect for Taylor's authority.

A Match of Controversy

The second half saw Taylor make his only error of the game, disallowing a German goal. The match should have ended 3-1, but Cruyff's frustration boiled over at the final whistle, earning him a red card for dissent.

The game was further marred by a bizarre oversight: the German team had forgotten to install corner flags. Recognizing this, Taylor insisted on their placement before the match, adhering strictly to the rules.

A Language Barrier

The final presented a linguistic challenge, as linesmen Barreto (Uruguay) and Gonzalez (Mexico) spoke no English. To overcome this, they devised a system of signals: hands down for agreement, and a flag raised to the chest for unobserved occurrences. This technique was later adopted by refereeing teams worldwide.

An Unforgettable Accolade

Despite his one error, Taylor's handling of the final was impeccable. In a remarkable gesture of appreciation, he received a medal from the president of the Netherlands, the losing nation, and the same honor was bestowed upon most of the Dutch team.