Jake Ireland
Encyclopedia
John "Jake" Ireland is a former referee
in the Canadian Football League
, who wore uniform number 62, and current lead replay official for the league's instant replay
command centre.
, attended Burlington Central High School
from 1960 to 1965. Ireland's father, Garnet Ireland, as well as his three brothers and a sister, also attended BCHS. While at Central, Ireland participated in basketball, cross-country running, and curling. He was also an active member of Student’s Council, and was proud to win a Mathematics Award in 1964.
While attending McMaster University
, Ireland was contacted by a high school friend to begin officiating flag football for the newly created Burlington Minor Football Association. Soon after, Ireland was contacted to begin officiating for the Lakeshore Football Association, including refereeing games for the Burlington Braves Club. It was during a Braves game that Ireland was recruited by the Canadian Football League
to begin his career with the CFL as a referee. A career that would find him participating in 555 games and refereeing in 15 Grey Cup
games.
Although he retired from his full-time career with Stelco Inc. after 31 years, Ireland continued active as a CFL referee until the conclusion of the 2008 CFL season
, his 30th, and his final on-field game, the 96th Grey Cup
.
On June 26, 2009, the CFL announced that Ireland is the lead replay official for the new Replay Command Centre that decides all instant replay
decisions starting in the 2009 CFL season
.
Official (Canadian football)
An official in Canadian football is a person who has responsibility in enforcing the rules and maintaining the order of the game.-Equipment:Canadian football officials generally use the following equipment:...
in the Canadian Football League
Canadian Football League
The Canadian Football League or CFL is a professional sports league located in Canada. The CFL is the highest level of competition in Canadian football, a form of gridiron football closely related to American football....
, who wore uniform number 62, and current lead replay official for the league's instant replay
Instant replay
Instant replay is the replaying of video footage of an event or incident very soon after it has occurred. In television broadcasting of sports events, instant replay is often used during live broadcast, to show a passage of play which was important or remarkable, or which was unclear on first...
command centre.
Life
Ireland, from Townsend, OntarioTownsend, Ontario
Townsend is a planned community in Haldimand County, Ontario, Canada that was founded in 1970 with the expectation it would house the developing industrial region to the south around Nanticoke.-Summary:...
, attended Burlington Central High School
Burlington Central High School
Burlington Central High School is a public middle school and high school in Burlington, Ontario, Canada in the Halton District School Board. Enrollment was 686 students in September 2008. The current school building was constructed in 1922 and has been added to extensively over the years. The last...
from 1960 to 1965. Ireland's father, Garnet Ireland, as well as his three brothers and a sister, also attended BCHS. While at Central, Ireland participated in basketball, cross-country running, and curling. He was also an active member of Student’s Council, and was proud to win a Mathematics Award in 1964.
While attending McMaster University
McMaster University
McMaster University is a public research university whose main campus is located in Hamilton, Ontario, Canada. The main campus is located on of land in the residential neighbourhood of Westdale, adjacent to Hamilton's Royal Botanical Gardens...
, Ireland was contacted by a high school friend to begin officiating flag football for the newly created Burlington Minor Football Association. Soon after, Ireland was contacted to begin officiating for the Lakeshore Football Association, including refereeing games for the Burlington Braves Club. It was during a Braves game that Ireland was recruited by the Canadian Football League
Canadian Football League
The Canadian Football League or CFL is a professional sports league located in Canada. The CFL is the highest level of competition in Canadian football, a form of gridiron football closely related to American football....
to begin his career with the CFL as a referee. A career that would find him participating in 555 games and refereeing in 15 Grey Cup
Grey Cup
The Grey Cup is both the name of the championship of the Canadian Football League and the name of the trophy awarded to the victorious team. It is Canada's largest annual sports and television event, regularly drawing a Canadian viewing audience of about 3 to 4 million individuals...
games.
Although he retired from his full-time career with Stelco Inc. after 31 years, Ireland continued active as a CFL referee until the conclusion of the 2008 CFL season
2008 CFL season
The 2008 CFL season was the 55th season of modern Canadian professional football. Officially, it was the 51st season for the league. It was also the first CFL season in which all of the league's regular season and post-season games, including the Grey Cup game, were aired on TSN. This meant the CFL...
, his 30th, and his final on-field game, the 96th Grey Cup
96th Grey Cup
The 96th Grey Cup was held in Montreal, Quebec at Olympic Stadium on November 23, 2008. The Eastern Division Champion Montreal Alouettes hosted the Western Division Champion Calgary Stampeders. The Stampeders won the game 22-14, with quarterback Henry Burris winning the MVP award...
.
On June 26, 2009, the CFL announced that Ireland is the lead replay official for the new Replay Command Centre that decides all instant replay
Instant replay
Instant replay is the replaying of video footage of an event or incident very soon after it has occurred. In television broadcasting of sports events, instant replay is often used during live broadcast, to show a passage of play which was important or remarkable, or which was unclear on first...
decisions starting in the 2009 CFL season
2009 CFL season
The 2009 CFL season was the 56th season of modern professional Canadian football. Officially, it was the 52nd season of the Canadian Football League. The Montreal Alouettes won the 97th Grey Cup on November 29 with a last second 28–27 win over the Saskatchewan Roughriders...
.
Highlights
- June 12, 1979 First CFL game as an official (OttawaOttawa Rough RidersThe Ottawa Rough Riders were a Canadian Football League team based in Ottawa, Ontario, founded in 1876. One of the oldest and longest lived professional sports teams in North America, the Rough Riders won the Grey Cup championship nine times. Their most dominant era was the 1960s and 1970s, a...
vs. MontrealMontreal AlouettesThe Montreal Alouettes are a Canadian Football League team based in Montreal, Quebec.The current franchise named the Alouettes moved to Montreal from Baltimore, Maryland, in 1996 where they had been known as the Baltimore Stallions...
) - Total Games Officiated: 555
- Grey Cup Games: 15 (12 as referee)
- 1976 Most Improved Official — Lakeshore Football Officials Association
- 1979 Officiated in the National Junior Football Championship
- 2003 Wall of Fame — Lakeshore Football Officials Association
- 1985–1988 Selected as Head Referee in four consecutive Grey Cup games