Evening Telegraph (First Edition)
Ref Tiny a largerthan-life character
WithBrown
THOSE who followed football in the 1960s and early 1970s will remember a referee who was a largerthan-life character in more ways than one.
Tom Wharton was an imposing 6ft 4in figure in the Scottish refereeing scene in these decades and was known affectionately under the antonym nickname of ‘Tiny’.
He was also one of those refs who talked to players throughout the game.
I played under him just once, and claimed for a goalkick or offside (can’t remember which).
The decision went against me and, as he ran past, he said: “You get nothing for toenails, son!”
He was well respected throughout the game and took charge of four Scottish Cup Finals and two League Cup Finals.
In addition, he was the man in the middle when Atletico Madrid and Florentine contested the 196162 European CupWinners’ Cup Final at Hampden Park in his home city.
Tiny was also a regular official for internationals and club games in Europe.
In later years, Wharton was chairman of the SFA’s Referee Supervisors Committee between 1976 and 1990 and served as part of Fifa’s Referees Committee between 1981 and 2000.
He was awarded the OBE in 1990 for services to Scottish football.
He died in 2005 aged 77.
JIM Don was a very well-known face in Dundee Sunday Welfare AFA circles in the 1970s and 1980s.
He was a very good and successful player with a couple of clubs, before hanging up his boots and making the step up to match secretary.
And that appointment coincided with the Sunday afternoon league really taking off.
In a matter of a few seasons, the association saw their division tally leap from two to five.
And that at a time when there was also a very healthy Sunday Morning AFA, in addition to Saturday associations such as Angus and Midlands.
Jim was well supported by other office-bearers such as Ian Irvine, Lindsay Bell, Gregor Brough, Jim