Richard Wilson
We are very sad to report that Richard died at the weekend from a pulmonary embolism. He had undergone a serious operation before Christmas from which he seemed to have recovered. Jo Russell reports that he and other ex-playing Ramblers, John Ashworth, Rocky Mowat and Bob Gayford saw him in the Coach and Horses in Barnes two weeks ago. Richard looked amazingly well and cheerful and was pleased with his progress. He was making plans to start exercising soon so that he could re-start his refereeing.
After standing down from playing for the Old Malvernians with distinction, he played for the HAC Vets where he was head and shoulders above the rest of us in anticipation, tackling, ball control and passing.
When he hung up his boots he turned out nearly every Saturday to referee a match in the Arthurian Leagues. Ramblers Vets will remember him refereeing most years the Sunday game at the HAC on the London Tour. He once said his style was to apply the advantage rule to its maximum to allow the game to flow. We told him it was because he was still trying to keep up with play!
The suddenness of his death has come as a big shock to all those who saw him on a regular basis in London, whether in the pub or during regular day and weekend walks that included John Craven and Philip Swallow. His big smile and great positive attitude made him a popular and respected friend for many Ramblers who enjoyed his companionship.
His entry in the Ramblers complete history is set out below.
Richard Wilson joined after his elder brother Ted had introduced him to the members at the age of fifteen during the schoolboy trials. He played for whichever team was short at the Easter Festival, including the Salopians and Cholmeleians. Richard had played as a left-back for Malvern’s 1st XI in 1965, and remembers especially the Burns brothers, Alan Isaac, and Tom Costigan, ’who were all very kind, though John Woods made it clear he did not like the length of my hair!’
Just after leaving Malvern he went on the Ramblers London Tour in January 1966, despite his mother being anxious as to what he would get up to. Richard had never been to London and was given ten shillings (50p) for the weekend by his mother. ‘I had a fantastic weekend. I played at Bradfield and ended up at a strip club in Soho, where my eyes were out on stalks. I had more beer than I had ever drunk, but by the time I got back home on Sunday night, thanks to the wonderful generosity of the senior Ramblers I still had my ten-shilling note in my pocket. I have never forgotten their kindness.’
After university Richard decided to take his accountancy finals in Liverpool so he could play football for the Ramblers, and had one full season in 1970-71 playing for the 1st XI under George Davies. He remembers hearing George on Any Questions at the time he was with Next, answering a question on the secret of his success. ‘George rabbitted on about teamwork, delegation, and taking responsibility and I suddenly realised it was exactly the same team talk he gave in the Ramblers dressing-room before a game.
‘My best goal was at Keele University on a very windy day. I came charging in and connected with the ball and for some reason it wobbled, which sent the goalkeeper the wrong way. My worst own goal was when I was near touch and the halfway line. Aware of a forward moving in, I turned to hit it back to Chris Kingsford. Unfortunately I caught it perfectly, and with a following wind it went straight into the net from about forty yards.’
The worst own goal Richard witnessed was scored by Bob Collin. The Ramblers had battled the elements to get over to Huddersfield to play the Amateurs, and for the first twenty minutes were bravely holding out with ten men. ‘Bob appeared late, apologising, explaining that his car had broken down, and ran onto the pitch to defend a Ramblers corner. We were delighted that it was still 0-0 and now we were at full strength. The ball came over and Bob rose to head it away, only for it to skim off his head into the back of the net. Unbelievable.’
Richard came to London for his articles and played for the Old Malvernians, appearing in five winning Arthur Dunn Cup Finals, before turning out for the HAC Vets for ten years. He took up refereeing and turns out each Saturday in the AFA; he enjoys most of all the Arthurian League and Arthur Dunn matches. Two seasons ago he won the Best Referee of the Year award from the Arthurian League, so ‘I must be doing something right. It’s never easy without assistants, but common sense does seem to rule at this level. After a stoppage for injury, one side agreed to hit the ball back to the opposing keeper. Unfortunately it was a hard pitch, and with one bounce it went high over the keeper’s head into the goal. I decided that the kick should be re-taken and there was rightly not a murmur of dissent.’
In the ten years that he has refereed he has seen a much higher level of technical skill from players, thanks to protection from previously-acceptable hard tackles. On the negative side, the players rarely accept the referee’s decisions and are up for challenging authority. ‘I tell the players this is not a democracy but a benevolent dictatorship, and just to get on with it.’
Richard sits on the Council of Malvern College and is Chairman of the Arthur Dunn Cup.
