Allan Gunn
Encyclopedia
Allan Gunn was an English
former football
referee in the Football League
, Premier League, and for FIFA
. During his time on the List he was based in Sussex
, initially Burgess Hill
and later, Chailey
, near Lewes
.
Over the next few years he made frequent appearances in the then Football League Division One. In 1986 he was senior linesman to Alan Robinson in the FA Cup Final between Everton and Liverpool and refereed the Milk Cup Final
between QPR
and Oxford
. He replaced the retiring Robinson on the FIFA list for the following season (1986–87
).
He took charge of an increasing number of key domestic games. In 1987 he refereed the Associate Members Cup Final between Mansfield and Bristol City. This was the first professional English Cup Final to be settled by a penalty shoot-out
. Two years later, in April 1989, he handled the Final of the Simod Cup (a short-lived tournament for sides in the top two divisions) in which Nottingham Forest overcame Everton 4–3. He was appointed to the Charity Shield a few months later. Many referees who have handled this game have shortly after graduated to the FA Cup Final and he got his chance at the end of that season (1989–90
). The Final between Manchester United
and Crystal Palace ended 3–3 after extra time, and he also refereed the rather low-key replay, won by United 1–0.
On the international scene, he was referee for a number of club ties but his most notable match was a World Cup qualifier
in April 1989 in which Portugal
beat Switzerland
3–1.
Originally he was due to retire at the end of the 1990–91
season. However, in common with a number of high-performing referees at that time, he was granted an extension. This gave him a few more months at FIFA level before the world body reduced its own retirement age to 45 and, along with many other referees, he had to stand down at the end of 1991. However, he continued to referee in England. He was chosen for the new Premier League in 1992, and in 1993 completed a collection of English Finals by taking charge of the Coca Cola (League) Cup
Final between Arsenal and Sheffield Wednesday.
He was then granted a further domestic extension. Early in 1994, though, he decided to retire at the end of the season at the age of 51, after a 17-year career on the full List. He accepted an offer from the FA
in 2000 to become a member of the video panel reviewing match events and disciplinary matters. He died in 2004.
Print
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
former football
Football (soccer)
Association football, more commonly known as football or soccer, is a sport played between two teams of eleven players with a spherical ball...
referee in the Football League
The Football League
The Football League, also known as the npower Football League for sponsorship reasons, is a league competition featuring professional association football clubs from England and Wales. Founded in 1888, it is the oldest such competition in world football...
, Premier League, and for FIFA
FIFA
The Fédération Internationale de Football Association , commonly known by the acronym FIFA , is the international governing body of :association football, futsal and beach football. Its headquarters are located in Zurich, Switzerland, and its president is Sepp Blatter, who is in his fourth...
. During his time on the List he was based in Sussex
Sussex
Sussex , from the Old English Sūþsēaxe , is an historic county in South East England corresponding roughly in area to the ancient Kingdom of Sussex. It is bounded on the north by Surrey, east by Kent, south by the English Channel, and west by Hampshire, and is divided for local government into West...
, initially Burgess Hill
Burgess Hill
Burgess Hill is a civil parish and a town primarily located in the Mid Sussex district of West Sussex, England, close to the border with East Sussex, on the edge of the South Downs National Park...
and later, Chailey
Chailey
Chailey is a village and civil parish in the Lewes District of East Sussex, England. It is located ten miles north of Lewes, on the A272 road from Winchester to Canterbury...
, near Lewes
Lewes
Lewes is the county town of East Sussex, England and historically of all of Sussex. It is a civil parish and is the centre of the Lewes local government district. The settlement has a history as a bridging point and as a market town, and today as a communications hub and tourist-oriented town...
.
Career
Gunn became a Football League linesman in 1974 and two years later made the Supplementary Referees List. After a successful season at that level he was promoted to the full List in 1977.Over the next few years he made frequent appearances in the then Football League Division One. In 1986 he was senior linesman to Alan Robinson in the FA Cup Final between Everton and Liverpool and refereed the Milk Cup Final
1986 Football League Cup Final
The 1986 Milk Cup Final was a football match held on 20 April 1986 between Oxford United and Queens Park Rangers. Oxford won the match 3–0 to capture the League Cup — their first major honour. Trevor Hebberd opened the scoring in the first half, and Ray Houghton added a second...
between QPR
Queens Park Rangers F.C.
Queens Park Rangers Football Club is an English professional football club, based in White City, Hammersmith and Fulham, west London. As the 2010-11 Football League Championship champions, they now play in the top tier of English football the Premier League, for the first time in 15 years...
and Oxford
Oxford United F.C.
Oxford United Football Club is an English association football club based in Oxford, Oxfordshire. The club play in League Two, following promotion from the Conference National in May 2010. The club had been a non-League side since their relegation from the Football League in the 2005–06 season. The...
. He replaced the retiring Robinson on the FIFA list for the following season (1986–87
1986-87 in English football
The 1986–87 season was the 107th season of competitive football in England.- First Division :The First Division championship went to Everton in their final season under the management of Howard Kendall before his departure to Athletic Bilbao. His side overcame a spate of injuries to fight off...
).
He took charge of an increasing number of key domestic games. In 1987 he refereed the Associate Members Cup Final between Mansfield and Bristol City. This was the first professional English Cup Final to be settled by a penalty shoot-out
Penalty shootout (football)
A penalty shoot-out, referred to as kicks from the penalty mark in the Laws of the Game, is the FIFA official term for a method used in association football to decide which team progresses to the next stage of a tournament following a tied game...
. Two years later, in April 1989, he handled the Final of the Simod Cup (a short-lived tournament for sides in the top two divisions) in which Nottingham Forest overcame Everton 4–3. He was appointed to the Charity Shield a few months later. Many referees who have handled this game have shortly after graduated to the FA Cup Final and he got his chance at the end of that season (1989–90
1989-90 in English football
-European competitions:English clubs were still banned from competing in European competitions following the Heysel Stadium disaster.- First Division :...
). The Final between Manchester United
Manchester United F.C.
Manchester United Football Club is an English professional football club, based in Old Trafford, Greater Manchester, that plays in the Premier League. Founded as Newton Heath LYR Football Club in 1878, the club changed its name to Manchester United in 1902 and moved to Old Trafford in 1910.The 1958...
and Crystal Palace ended 3–3 after extra time, and he also refereed the rather low-key replay, won by United 1–0.
On the international scene, he was referee for a number of club ties but his most notable match was a World Cup qualifier
1990 FIFA World Cup qualification
The qualification competition for the 1990 FIFA World Cup was a series of tournaments organised by the six FIFA confederations. Each confederation — the AFC , CAF , CONCACAF , CONMEBOL , OFC , and UEFA — was allocated a certain number of the 24 places at the tournament...
in April 1989 in which Portugal
Portugal national football team
The Portugal national football team represents Portugal in association football and is controlled by the Portuguese Football Federation, the governing body for football in Portugal. Portugal's home ground is Estádio Nacional in Oeiras, and their head coach is Paulo Bento...
beat Switzerland
Switzerland national football team
The Swiss national football team is the national football team of Switzerland...
3–1.
Originally he was due to retire at the end of the 1990–91
1990-91 in English football
The 1990–91 season was the 111th season of competitive football in England.- First Division :Arsenal won the league. Runners-up spot was achieved by Liverpool, who had led the table for much of the first half of the season but had been shell-shocked in February by the sudden resignation of manager...
season. However, in common with a number of high-performing referees at that time, he was granted an extension. This gave him a few more months at FIFA level before the world body reduced its own retirement age to 45 and, along with many other referees, he had to stand down at the end of 1991. However, he continued to referee in England. He was chosen for the new Premier League in 1992, and in 1993 completed a collection of English Finals by taking charge of the Coca Cola (League) Cup
Football League Cup
The Football League Cup, commonly known as the League Cup or, from current sponsorship, the Carling Cup, is an English association football competition. Like the FA Cup, it is played on a knockout basis...
Final between Arsenal and Sheffield Wednesday.
He was then granted a further domestic extension. Early in 1994, though, he decided to retire at the end of the season at the age of 51, after a 17-year career on the full List. He accepted an offer from the FA
The Football Association
The Football Association, also known as simply The FA, is the governing body of football in England, and the Crown Dependencies of Jersey, Guernsey and the Isle of Man. It was formed in 1863, and is the oldest national football association...
in 2000 to become a member of the video panel reviewing match events and disciplinary matters. He died in 2004.
- Football League Handbooks, 1974–1976
- Rothmans Football Yearbooks, 1977–1994
- Gilbert Upton (2005) Football League and Premiership Referees 1888 to 2005: a Reference Resource, Soccerdata
External links
- Allan Gunn Referee Statistics at soccerbase.com (1992-93 only)