Football referee Keith Hackett began his career in local leagues in Sheffield in the 1960s. He was given a gold medal after refereeing the 1981 FA Cup Final between Spurs and Man City at Wembley. To him the medal represents an extremely memorable moment in his career, and the importance of football: "These medals are extremely rare. This was for the 100th FA Cup final. It is something I treasure. It highlights the ambition of referees in England. You only get the Cup Final once; I was extremely fortunate because I refereed the first game and the replay the following Thursday. I have several memories of the game... seeing Ricardo Villa and Osvaldo Ardiles on the pitch - they were probably the first two overseas signings. I later learned Harry Haslam had the opportunity to bring them to Sheffield United but they finished at Spurs. In that first FA Cup Final game Ricky Villa didn't play particularly well and was substituted. I remember his long walk behind the goal to the perimeter, past the benches, down the side of the pitch. I was still refereeing but I really felt the human trial, tribulation, for the individual." In the replay, Villa went on to score. Spurs beat Man City 3-2.
Referee medal for 1981 FA Cup Final
Contributed by bbcsheffield
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c. 1981
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Comments
I think you will find the 100th FA cup final was in 1972 between Arsenal and Leeds Utd nice medal though.
@ gazza7772000, Although the competition was 100 years old at the 1972 FA Cup final, Mr Hackett is correct as he DID referee the 100th final, this is because the competition was suspended during the War years.