RIP

Good ref on his, and our, special day. Can remember the final whistle that day! Rest in peace.

I grew up watching that game on VHS. Wasn't born sadly but that man had a cracking game. Bon Voyage!

RIP Derek

RIP Derek.

RIP derek. Every reff dream to officiate in the FA cup final. Being noted for wearing two watches. Funny, by today's refereee standards that considered a requirement.

I have never really thought about it before, but I can't remember any dubious decisions from that great day - maybe I was blinkered, but maybe he was a good ref?

It does surprise me nowadays how some refs are "celebrities".

RIP Derek.

As they say the best refs are the ones you don't notice and those who can ignore pressure to make the toughest correct decisions. At least in the final we barely noticed him and the game flowed well - a sign that he was very professional on the day. He's before my time so I can't really comment on his general reputation.

Being a referee is a really tough role. It's easy to make more enemies than friends just by doing your job correctly and who doesn't have the odd bad day at work. If I make an error then maybe a couple of staff or customers speak to me about it. For a ref there can be thousands shouting insults and millions thinking down on them from their couches. These guys deserve a lot of respect even when criticising decisions they've made - still respect the person.

Back in the day refs were part time, they had day jobs and refereeing was an extra. These days many are full time. As a supporter it's tiring travelling around the country, this is why midweek games historically had more local referees. While not a strict rule it was often the case that the referee would live in a mid-point between the two teams, or with local derbies from the nearest neutral point. As Nippard from from Bournemouth he would have reffed more games on the south coast and surrounding areas.

(correction, Dorset, but the point still stands)

R I P ,Derek,

Part of a great day.
RIP

Derek and his wife came to the Reunion I helped to organise of the FA 1978 winning squad in 2008. He was so pleased to be invited and couldn't believe the crowds who lined the streets for the occasion as we made our way to the town hall. He was so pleased to see Bobby Robson again, and to be staying in the same hotel as George Burley. RIP Derek.

RIP

Best. Referee. Ever.
Rest in Peace, Sir.

I had to smile when I read some of the comments about letting the game flow and not a dubious decision.

By coincidence I watched this game on DVD last week and that first tackle by Burley on Liam Brady sent him into row Z. If that game was refereed to today's standards it would end up as a 5 a side. But to the players credit, they just got up and got on with it.

None of theatrics that you see nowadays with players rolling around in agony because the opposition brushed up against them. Whilst you want to see the flair players ping the ball about and the ball players sprint past their man, a fair tackle is a fair tackle and is just as skillful. I want to see a game flow, not free kick after free kick because some prima donna has gone down holding his face like he has been shot in order to get the opposition booked or sent off.

Rant over.

I was at Wembley that day Derick had a great game after the match he did a lap of honour with his linemen this had never been done before RIP

Never noticed him on the day, usually sign of a good ref - unlike Clive Thomas in the semi final three years earlier. RIP Derek, good he had his 90 minutes at Wembley. Not sure if refs still do a lap of honour.