George Mitchell (referee)
Encyclopedia
George Mitchell was the first Scotsman to participate in a FIFA World Cup
final match when he ran the line to George Reader
in the 1950 final group match between Brazil
and Uruguay
.
Mitchell had been a class 1 referee from 1946 and had been appointed to only one match of note (the 1949 Scottish Cup
semi-final between Rangers
and East Fife
) when he was selected to represent his country at the World Cup in Brazil in 1950. There he formed part of the first group of British referees ever to appear in a World Cup Finals tournament*, including Arthur Edward Ellis
, Mervyn Griffiths, Reg Leafe
and George Reader
.
Mitchell appeared in four matches during the finals: the opening game, a match from Pool C and two games in the final pool, including Brazil's victory over Spain.
After the finals Mitchell returned to Scotland, maintained his status as a FIFA referee until 1954-55 season (taking charge of the Auld Enemy clash of 1951); as a class 1 referee until the 1961-62 season; then served as the SFA Referee Supervisor from the following season until 1988-89 season. He was also brought in to take charge of the Falkirk
v Scotland XI friendly in 1955 http://www.falkirktoday.co.uk/ViewArticle2.aspx?SectionID=928&ArticleID=894938.
* There is some doubt as to nationality of Thomas Balway who represented France
in 1930.
FIFA World Cup
The FIFA World Cup, often simply the World Cup, is an international association football competition contested by the senior men's national teams of the members of Fédération Internationale de Football Association , the sport's global governing body...
final match when he ran the line to George Reader
George Reader
George Reader was the fourth man to referee a FIFA World Cup Final, the first Englishman to do so, and the oldest match official at any World Cup in history...
in the 1950 final group match between Brazil
Brazil
Brazil , officially the Federative Republic of Brazil , is the largest country in South America. It is the world's fifth largest country, both by geographical area and by population with over 192 million people...
and Uruguay
Uruguay
Uruguay ,officially the Oriental Republic of Uruguay,sometimes the Eastern Republic of Uruguay; ) is a country in the southeastern part of South America. It is home to some 3.5 million people, of whom 1.8 million live in the capital Montevideo and its metropolitan area...
.
Mitchell had been a class 1 referee from 1946 and had been appointed to only one match of note (the 1949 Scottish Cup
Scottish Cup
The Scottish Football Association Challenge Cup,, commonly known as the Scottish Cup or the William Hill Scottish Cup for sponsorship purposes, is the main national cup competition in Scottish football. It is a knockout cup competition run by and named after the Scottish Football Association.The...
semi-final between Rangers
Rangers F.C.
Rangers Football Club are an association football club based in Glasgow, Scotland, who play in the Scottish Premier League. The club are nicknamed the Gers, Teddy Bears and the Light Blues, and the fans are known to each other as bluenoses...
and East Fife
East Fife F.C.
East Fife Football Club are a Scottish football club based in the Fife coastal town of Methil...
) when he was selected to represent his country at the World Cup in Brazil in 1950. There he formed part of the first group of British referees ever to appear in a World Cup Finals tournament*, including Arthur Edward Ellis
Arthur Edward Ellis
Arthur Edward Ellis was an English football referee.Ellis was a referee in The Football Association competitions and in FIFA international competitions...
, Mervyn Griffiths, Reg Leafe
Reg Leafe
Reginald James Leafe was a FIFA referee in the 1950s and early 1960s.-Career:He was appointed to the 1955 FA Cup Final at Wembley on May 7, 1955, when Newcastle United beat Manchester City 3-1. He was subsequently an English representative at the 1958 FIFA World Cup, taking charge of the Group A...
and George Reader
George Reader
George Reader was the fourth man to referee a FIFA World Cup Final, the first Englishman to do so, and the oldest match official at any World Cup in history...
.
Mitchell appeared in four matches during the finals: the opening game, a match from Pool C and two games in the final pool, including Brazil's victory over Spain.
After the finals Mitchell returned to Scotland, maintained his status as a FIFA referee until 1954-55 season (taking charge of the Auld Enemy clash of 1951); as a class 1 referee until the 1961-62 season; then served as the SFA Referee Supervisor from the following season until 1988-89 season. He was also brought in to take charge of the Falkirk
Falkirk
Falkirk is a town in the Central Lowlands of Scotland. It lies in the Forth Valley, almost midway between the two most populous cities of Scotland; north-west of Edinburgh and north-east of Glasgow....
v Scotland XI friendly in 1955 http://www.falkirktoday.co.uk/ViewArticle2.aspx?SectionID=928&ArticleID=894938.
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
in 1930.